How to say "alter" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 変えるかえるichidan verb, transitive verbThe general everyday verb for altering or changing something — a plan, a room, one's appearance. When you simply mean 'change/alter' and no more specific verb fits, this is the safe default choice.
- 改めるあらためるichidan verb, transitive verbCovers altering in the sense of revising or correcting: rules, documents, laws, habits. It suggests improving or replacing something with a revised version rather than changing it into something else.
- 転ずるてんずるichidan verb (-zuru), intransitive verb, transitive verbA formal, written-style verb meaning to turn or shift — altering a course, attitude, or direction of things. Rarely the natural word for everyday 'alter'; choose it mainly for shifts of direction or stance.
- 転じるてんじるichidan verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbThe variant of 転ずる, with the same sense: to turn, shift, or switch something such as a situation, policy, or attitude. For plain 'alter' of objects or text it is not the usual choice; use it for directional shifts.
- 変じるへんじるichidan verb, intransitive verbA literary verb meaning to change into or be transformed into something. It suits transformation of state or form rather than deliberate alteration of things, so it is seldom the word you want for ordinary 'alter'.
Use 「変える」 for changing something into a different state, 「改める」 for revising or correcting, and 「転じる」/「転ずる」 for shifting direction or course; 「変じる」 is literary and means transformation rather than ordinary alteration.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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