改良

かいりょう

improvement, reform

JLPT N1

Character Breakdown

Usage of 改良

The word 改良 (gǎi liáng) means "to improve" or "to enhance" something, often referring to tangible things like products, seeds, or technology. It implies making modifications that result in better quality or performance.

Common Collocations

  • 改良产品 (improve products): used in business or manufacturing contexts.
  • 改良种子 (improve seeds): common in agriculture.
  • 改良技术 (improve technology): used in scientific or technical fields.

Nuances

改良 focuses on practical improvements and is often used in formal or technical contexts. It differs from 改变 (gǎi biàn), which means "to change" more generally, and from 提高 (tí gāo), which means "to raise" or "to increase" but not necessarily by modification.

Common Confusion

Avoid confusing 改良 with 改进 (gǎi jìn), which also means "to improve" but often emphasizes process improvement or refinement rather than product quality.

Use 改良 when emphasizing the enhancement of quality or function through modification.

Example Sentences

This company is committed to improving the quality of its products.

Farmers improved crop yields by improving the seeds.

This phone has been improved, and the battery life is longer.