变迁

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. 时代在不断变迁。▶ —
   The times are constantly changing.
2. 这座城市经历了巨大的变迁。▶ —
   This city has undergone enormous changes.

Collocations

Mnemonic

变 biàn "to change" + 迁 qiān "to move, shift": to change and shift, i.e. (long-term) changes, vicissitudes. Same as the Korean word byeon-cheon (變遷). The slow flow of an era, society or environment changing over a long time (时代变迁 the changes of an age). It is weightier than plain 变化 (change), carrying a sense of the passage and movement of time. 迁 means "to move" (迁移, 搬迁).

Related

Quick check

1. What is the nuance of 变迁 versus plain 变化?

   • change over a long span of time
   • an instantaneous change
   • no change at all
   • a sudden accident