改善

かいぜん

betterment, improvement

JLPT N3

Character Breakdown

Usage and Nuances

The word 改善 (gǎishàn) means "to improve" or "to make better." It is commonly used in formal and informal contexts to describe the process of making something better, whether it is a physical condition, a situation, or an abstract concept like health or policy.

Common Collocations

These collocations show that 改善 is often paired with nouns describing conditions or states that can be enhanced.

Register and Tone

改善 is neutral and suitable for both spoken and written Chinese. It is often used in news reports, official documents, and everyday conversation when discussing improvements.

Common Confusions

Do not confuse 改善 with 改进 (gǎijìn), which also means "to improve" but often emphasizes improvement through technical or procedural changes. 改善 is broader and can refer to qualitative improvements in various contexts.

Example Sentences

The company is working hard to improve the employees' working environment.

To improve his health, he started running every day.

The government introduced new policies to improve traffic conditions.