改 means “revise, reform, renew”

あらためる · aratameru

Also: reformation, change, modify, mend

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

あらためる, あらたまる

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

カイ

JLPT N2 · Taught in grade 4 · 7 strokes

The story

Taking a stick (攵) to yourself (己): picture beating your own habits into new shape. 改める is to change or revise, 改善 is the kaizen of Japanese factories, and most stations have a 改札, ticket gates where staff once clipped tickets by hand.

Used in 改める (aratameru, to change/revise), 改善 (kaizen, improvement), and 改札 (kaisatsu, ticket gate)

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Learn 改 and more kanji free on Fuji Learning · All kanji

Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.