Usage of the character 變

a popular form of narrative literature flourishing in the Tang Dynasty (618-907) with alternate prose and rhymed parts for recitation and singing (often on Buddhist themes)

rúbiàn

蠕变

[蠕變]

creep (materials science)

biànhuà

变化

[變化]

(intransitive) to change; to vary
change; variation (CL:個／个 (gè))

biànyàng

变样

[變樣]

to change (appearance)
to change shape

biànxìng

变性

[變性]

to denature
denaturation
to have a sex change
transsexual

biànlǎo

变老

[變老]

to grow old
to age
aging

biànzhuāng

变装

[變裝]

to change clothes
to dress up; to put on a costume; to cosplay
to cross-dress

zāibiàn

灾变

[災變]

catastrophe
cataclysmic change

biànzuò

变作

[變作]

to change into
to turn into
to become

zìbiànliàng

自变量

[自變量]

(math.) independent variable

shuāibiànliàn

衰变链

[衰變鏈]

decay chain

biànsùgǎn

变速杆

[變速桿]

gear lever
stick shift

liúbiànxué

流变学

[流變學]

rheology

xiébiànliàng

协变量

[協變量]

covariate (statistics)

biàntàilà

变态辣

[變態辣]

(coll.) insanely spicy

biànzǔqì

变阻器

[變阻器]

rheostat (variable resistor)

biànzhuāngzhě

变装者

[變裝者]

cross-dresser

biànyāqì

变压器

[變壓器]

transformer

biànxìfǎ

变戏法

[變戲法]

to perform conjuring tricks
to conjure
to juggle

shuāibiànrè

衰变热

[衰變熱]

decay heat

biànsùqì

变速器

[變速器]

gearbox
speed changer
gear

jūnbiànlùn

均变论

[均變論]

uniformitarianism

zìbiànshù

自变数

[自變數]

(math.) independent variable

biànsèlóng

变色龙

[變色龍]

(lit. and fig.) chameleon

biànwēncéng

变温层

[變溫層]

troposphere
lower atmosphere

jiànbiànsè

渐变色

[漸變色]

color gradient

yīnbiànshù

因变数

[因變數]

(Tw) (math.) dependent variable

biànliúqì

变流器

[變流器]

converter

biànhuàqiú

变化球

[變化球]

(baseball) breaking ball
(fig.) curveball; unexpected turn of events

zāibiànlùn

灾变论

[災變論]

catastrophism
the theory that geological change is caused by catastrophic events such as the Biblical flood

biànfēnxué

变分学

[變分學]

calculus of variations (math.)

biàndiàojiā

变调夹

[變調夾]

capo

bùbiànliàng

不变量

[不變量]

invariant quantity
invariant (math.)

fēngqiēbiàn

风切变

[風切變]

wind shear (meteorology)

biànshēngqì

变声器

[變聲器]

voice changer (device or software)

hélièbiàn

核裂变

[核裂變]

atomic fission
nuclear fission
fission

biànmóshù

变魔术

[變魔術]

to perform magical tricks

biànbǎxì

变把戏

[變把戲]

to perform magic
to do magic tricks
prestidigitation

héjùbiàn

核聚变

[核聚變]

nuclear fusion

biàndiànzhàn

变电站

[變電站]

(transformer) substation

biànyìzhū

变异株

[變異株]

variant
variant strain (of virus)

biànhuàyīn

变化音

[變化音]

(music) accidental (a note foreign to the key signature)

biànjǔqì

变矩器

[變矩器]

(automobile) torque converter

hézhuǎnbiàn

核转变

[核轉變]

nuclear transformation
nuclear transmutation

xìngbiàntài

性变态

[性變態]

sexual perversion
sexual pervert

biànhuànqún

变换群

[變換群]

(math.) transformation group

biànfǎr

变法儿

[變法兒]

to try by all available methods

kělièbiàn

可裂变

[可裂變]

fissile

yìngbiànshù

应变数

[應變數]

(math.) dependent variable

yīnbiànliàng

因变量

[因變量]

dependent variable

biànxìngtǔ

变性土

[變性土]

vertisol (soil taxonomy)

biànjiāohuán

变焦环

[變焦環]

(photography) focus ring

yòubiànjì

诱变剂

[誘變劑]

mutagen

tūbiànzhū

突变株

[突變株]

mutant
mutant strain (of virus)

yìngbiànlì

应变力

[應變力]

adaptability
resourcefulness

biànzòuqǔ

变奏曲

[變奏曲]

variation (music)

zāibiànshuō

灾变说

[災變說]

catastrophism (theory that geological changes are brought about by catastrophes such as the biblical flood)

biànsùxiāng

变速箱

[變速箱]

gearbox
transmission

biànzhìyán

变质岩

[變質岩]

metamorphic rock (geology)

biànzhuāngxiù

变装秀

[變裝秀]

drag show; cross-dressing show

biànyàngr

变样儿

[變樣兒]

erhua variant of 變樣／变样 (biànyàng)

biànxíngchóng

变形虫

[變形蟲]

amoeba

biànfēnfǎ

变分法

[變分法]

calculus of variations

biànzàobì

变造币

[變造幣]

illegally modified or altered currency

yìbiànzhì

易变质

[易變質]

perishable

hébiànxíng

核变形

[核變形]

nuclear deformation

jǐnjíyìngbiàn

紧急应变

[緊急應變]

emergency management

shèyǐngbiànhuàn

射影变换

[射影變換]

a projective transformation

tuìhuàbiànzhì

蜕化变质

[蛻化變質]

(idiom) to degenerate (morally); to become depraved

fùbiànhánshù

复变函数

[複變函數]

function of a complex variable (math.)

shuāibiànqūxiàn

衰变曲线

[衰變曲線]

decay curves

biànzhuānghuánghòu

变装皇后

[變裝皇后]

drag queen

quánbiànlǐlùn

权变理论

[權變理論]

contingency theory (theory of leadership)

biànzhǐzhīshēng

变徵之声

[變徵之聲]

modified fifth note of the pentatonic scale

jié'āishùnbiàn

节哀顺变

[節哀順變]

restrain your grief, accept fate (condolence phrase)

lièbiànsuìpiàn

裂变碎片

[裂變碎片]

fission fragment

suíjīyìngbiàn

随机应变

[隨機應變]

to change according to the situation (idiom); pragmatic

súsuíshíbiàn

俗随时变

[俗隨時變]

customs change with time (idiom); other times, other manners
O Tempora, O Mores!

yìyìbiànhuà

意义变化

[意義變化]

change of meaning

zhìhuàntūbiàn

置换突变

[置換突變]

missense mutation

biàngéguǎnlǐ

变革管理

[變革管理]

change management (business)

tūbiànlǐlùn

突变理论

[突變理論]

(math.) catastrophe theory

bùbiànzīběn

不变资本

[不變資本]

constant capital

bóránbiànsè

勃然变色

[勃然變色]

to suddenly change color showing displeasure, bewilderment etc

Jiǎshēnzhèngbiàn

甲申政变

[甲申政變]

unsuccessful and bloody Korean palace coup in 1884 by Westernisers against conservatives, crushed by Qing troops

jiāobiànliúdiàn

交变流电

[交變流電]

alternating current
same as 交流電／交流电

tánhǔsèbiàn

谈虎色变

[談虎色變]

to turn pale at the mention of a tiger (idiom)
to be scared at the mere mention of

liúbiànnénglì

流变能力

[流變能力]

rheology

shíshítōngbiàn

识时通变

[識時通變]

understanding and adaptable

biànhuànmòcè

变幻莫测

[變幻莫測]

to change unpredictably
unpredictable
erratic
treacherous

jiāobiàndiànliú

交变电流

[交變電流]

alternating current (electricity)

tōngquándábiàn

通权达变

[通權達變]

to adapt to circumstances

yáoshēnyībiàn

摇身一变

[搖身一變]

to change shape in a single shake
fig. to take on a new lease of life

qiānbiànwànhuà

千变万化

[千變萬化]

countless changes
constant permutation

biàntàifǎnyìng

变态反应

[變態反應]

allergic response
allergy

bùbiànjiàgé

不变价格

[不變價格]

fixed price
constant price

Qī Qī Shìbiàn

七七事变

[七七事變]

Marco Polo Bridge Incident of 7th July 1937, regarded as the beginning of the Second Sino-Japanese War 抗日戰爭／抗日战争 ( Kàng Rì Zhànzhēng)

biànsùchuándòng

变速传动

[變速傳動]

to change gear

cuòyìtūbiàn

错义突变

[錯義突變]

missense mutation

biànhuànshèbèi

变换设备

[變換設備]

converter
conversion device

lièbiàncáiliào

裂变材料

[裂變材料]

fissionable material

jùfǔfángbiàn

拒腐防变

[拒腐防變]

to fight corruption and forestall moral degeneration

gèngǔbùbiàn

亘古不变

[亙古不變]

unchanging since times immemorial (idiom)
unalterable
unvarying
monotonous

děngbiànyāxiàn

等变压线

[等變壓線]

isallobar (line of equal pressure gradient)

bùshíshíbiàn

不识时变

[不識時變]

to show no understanding of the times (idiom); cannot adapt to current circumstances
not amenable to reason

jùbiànfǎnyìng

聚变反应

[聚變反應]

nuclear fusion

yīchéng-bùbiàn

一成不变

[一成不變]

(idiom) immutable; impervious to change; set in stone

qìhòubiànhuà

气候变化

[氣候變化]

climate change

biànhuàduōduān

变化多端

[變化多端]

changeable
changing
varied
full of changes

lièbiànwǔqì

裂变武器

[裂變武器]

fission weapon

huàxuébiànhuà

化学变化

[化學變化]

chemical change
chemical transformation

Huángjīn Mínbiàn

黄巾民变

[黃巾民變]

the Yellow Turbans Peasant Uprising at the end of later Han (from 184)

Wéixīn Biànfǎ

维新变法

[維新變法]

Hundred Days Reform (1898), failed attempt to reform the Qing dynasty

biànwēndòngwù

变温动物

[變溫動物]

poikilothermal (cold-blooded) animal

suíjībiànshù

随机变数

[隨機變數]

(math.) random variable

gǎibiànxíngxiàng

改变形像

[改變形像]

transfiguration

yìngbiànguǎnlǐ

应变管理

[應變管理]

change management (business)

mínbiànfēngqǐ

民变峰起

[民變峰起]

seething discontent (idiom); widespread popular grievances

shùnxīwànbiàn

瞬息万变

[瞬息萬變]

in an instant a myriad changes (idiom); rapid substantial change

jīyīntūbiàn

基因突变

[基因突變]

genetic mutation

zhuǎnbiànlìchǎng

转变立场

[轉變立場]

to change positions
to shift one's ground

jīfēnbiànhuàn

积分变换

[積分變換]

integral transform (math.)

shìjièbiànnuǎn

世界变暖

[世界變暖]

global warming

Shāng Yāngbiànfǎ

商鞅变法

[商鞅變法]

Shang Yang's political reform of Qin state 秦國／秦国 of 356 BC and 350 BC, that put it on the road to world domination

Xī'ān Shìbiàn

西安事变

[西安事變]

Xi'an Incident of 12th December 1936 (kidnap of Chiang Kai-shek 蔣介石／蒋介石 ( Jiǎng Jièshí))

biànsèyìróng

变色易容

[變色易容]

to change color and alter one's expression (idiom); to go white with fear
out of one's wits

zhuǎnbiànguòchéng

转变过程

[轉變過程]

process of change

biànhuàmòcè

变化莫测

[變化莫測]

unpredictable
changeable

lièbiànzhàdàn

裂变炸弹

[裂變炸彈]

fission bomb

jūnshìzhèngbiàn

军事政变

[軍事政變]

military coup

Biànxíngjīngāng

变形金刚

[變形金剛]

Transformers (franchise)

biànhuàwúcháng

变化无常

[變化無常]

(idiom) changeable; fickle

tánxìngbiànsè

谈性变色

[談性變色]

to turn green at the mention of sex; prudish

chǔbiànbùjīng

处变不惊

[處變不驚]

to remain calm in the face of events (idiom)

Huáběi Shìbiàn

华北事变

[華北事變]

North China Incident of October-December 1935, a Japanese attempt to set up a puppet government in north China

qiānbiànwànzhěn

千变万轸

[千變萬軫]

constantly changing, ever-varying (idiom)

biànxiànnénglì

变现能力

[變現能力]

liquidity; marketability

biànzhìzuòyòng

变质作用

[變質作用]

metamorphism (geology)

jiǎnqiēxíngbiàn

剪切形变

[剪切形變]

shearing
shear deformation

Wùxū Zhèngbiàn

戊戌政变

[戊戌政變]

coup by Dowager Empress Cixi 慈禧太后 ( Cíxǐtàihòu) ending the 1898 attempt to reform the Qing dynasty

Chénqiáobīngbiàn

陈桥兵变

[陳橋兵變]

the military revolt of 960 that led Zhao Kuangyin 趙匡胤／赵匡胤 to found the Song dynasty

lièbiànchǎnwù

裂变产物

[裂變產物]

fission products

biànběnjiālì

变本加厉

[變本加厲]

lit. change to more severe (idiom); to become more intense (esp. of shortcoming)
to aggravate
to intensify

biànshēngzhǒuyè

变生肘腋

[變生肘腋]

lit. calamity in one's armpit (idiom); a major coup happening on one's doorstep
trouble or danger in one's own backyard

qióngzésībiàn

穷则思变

[窮則思變]

(idiom) when you hit bottom, you have to come up with a new approach

gēngzǐguóbiàn

庚子国变

[庚子國變]

the crisis year of 1900 involving the Boxer uprising and the eight nation military invasion

fēngyúnbiànhuàn

风云变幻

[風雲變幻]

changeable situation (idiom)

biànyīnjìhao

变音记号

[變音記號]

(music) accidental (symbol such as a sharp (♯), flat (♭), natural (♮) etc)

liánxùbiàndiào

连续变调

[連續變調]

tone sandhi

jùbiànwǔqì

聚变武器

[聚變武器]

fusion-type weapon

biànfēnyuánlǐ

变分原理

[變分原理]

variational principle (physics)

tánxìngxíngbiàn

弹性形变

[彈性形變]

elastic deformation

shíbiànhánshù

实变函数

[實變函數]

function of a real variable (math.)

Wùxū Biànfǎ

戊戌变法

[戊戌變法]

Hundred Days Reform (1898), failed attempt to reform the Qing dynasty

Wǎnnán Shìbiàn

皖南事变

[皖南事變]

New Fourth Army Incident of 1940, involving fighting between the Nationalists and Communists

quánqiúbiànnuǎn

全球变暖

[全球變暖]

global warming (PRC usage)
written 全球暖化 in Taiwan

sìyī'èrshìbiàn

四一二事变

[四一二事變]

the coup of 12th Mar 1927, an attempt by Chiang Kai-shek to suppress the communists
called 反革命政變／反革命政变 or 慘案／惨案 in PRC literature

nüdàshíbābiàn

女大十八变

[女大十八變]

lit. a girl changes eighteen times between childhood and womanhood (idiom)
fig. a young woman is very different from the little girl she once was

biànjiāojùjìngtóu

变焦距镜头

[變焦距鏡頭]

zoom lens

fàngshèxìngshuāibiàn

放射性衰变

[放射性衰變]

radioactive decay

fùbiànhánshùlùn

复变函数论

[複變函數論]

(math.) theory of functions of a complex variable

Fùlìyèbiànhuàn

傅立叶变换

[傅立葉變換]

(math.) Fourier transform

lièbiàntóngwèisù

裂变同位素

[裂變同位素]

fissile isotope

zǔkàngbiànhuànqì

阻抗变换器

[阻抗變換器]

impedance converter

shǒudòngbiànsùqì

手动变速器

[手動變速器]

manual gearbox
manual transmission

shíbiànhánshùlùn

实变函数论

[實變函數論]

(math.) theory of functions of a real variable

Jiǔ Yībā Shìbiàn

九一八事变

[九一八事變]

the Mukden or Manchurian Railway Incident of 18th September 1931 used by the Japanese as a pretext to annex Manchuria
also known as Liutiaogou incident 柳條溝事變／柳条沟事变

Lúgōu Qiáo Shìbiàn

芦沟桥事变

[蘆溝橋事變]