Be / Change / Swap / Change / Change

General Idea

Be biàn : become / transform (state change, often intransitive).
Change gǎi : modify / correct (intentional, transitive).
Swap huàn : replace / exchange (substitution A↔B).
Change(s) biànhuà : change(s) (often noun: “there are changes”).
Change (impact) gǎibiàn : change (with impact), more neutral / written style.

1) Be (biàn) : become

Structures

Be + ADJ : become + adjective.
变得 + ADJ : emphasizes the degree of change.
变成 + N : “transform into …”.

天气变冷了。

Tiānqì biàn lěng le.

Le temps est devenu froid.

他变得更自信了。

Tā biàn de gèng zìxìn le.

Il est devenu plus confiant.

水变成冰了。

Shuǐ biànchéng bīng le.

L'eau s'est transformée en glace.

Pitfalls

To say “correct a text / change a schedule”, Change is often more appropriate.

2) Change (gǎi) : modify / correct

Goal

Change by modifying (text, plan, habit, setting) ; often “intentional”.

Structures

Change + N : modify N.
改成 + N : change to become N (chosen new version).
把 + N + 改… : very frequent structure.

这句话你改一下。

Zhè jù huà nǐ gǎi yíxià.

Modifie un peu cette phrase.

我们改成线上开会吧。

Wǒmen gǎichéng xiànshàng kāihuì ba.

Passons plutôt en réunion en ligne.

Exception

Change also serves for “correct” in the sense of “rectify an error”.

3) Swap (huàn) : replace / exchange

Goal

Replace A by B, change of concrete object, exchange of money, etc.

Structures

Swap + N : change of N (clothing, place…).
换成 + N : replace by N.

我想换一个座位。

Wǒ xiǎng huàn yí gè zuòwèi.

Je voudrais changer de place.

可以把现金换成欧元吗？

Kěyǐ bǎ xiànjīn huànchéng ōuyuán ma?

On peut changer l'argent en euros ?

Pitfalls

“Modify a text” → Change, not Swap (except if you replace an element by another: “replace a word”).

4) Change(s) (biànhuà) vs Change (gǎibiàn)

Change(s) : “changes” (often noun)

有变化, 发生变化, 变化很大.

Change (impact) : “change (something)” (often verb, more “impact”)

改变计划/态度/决定 ; sometimes intransitive: 情况改变了.

这个决定改变了很多事情。

Zhège juédìng gǎibiàn le hěn duō shìqing.

Cette décision a changé beaucoup de choses.

Checklist

Be → Be
Modify/correct → Change
Replace/exchange → Swap
Changes (noun) → Change(s)
Change with impact → Change (impact)

1) Be (biàn) : become

Structures

Pitfalls

2) Change (gǎi) : modify / correct

Goal

Structures

Exception

3) Swap (huàn) : replace / exchange

Goal

Structures

Pitfalls

4) Change(s) (biànhuà) vs Change (gǎibiàn)

Change(s) : “changes” (often noun)

Change (impact) : “change (something)” (often verb, more “impact”)

Checklist

Nuance exercises