改良|かいりょうkairyou[0]heiban (flat)

1. noun, suru verb, transitive verbimprovement; reform
   コンピューターはたえず改良かいりょうされている。↗

   Computers are constantly being improved.

• SynonymかいぜんNeutralCovers making a bad situation better, as in 「待遇改善」; used mainly of states and relations, while 「改良」 is mainly for improving things, methods and systems themselves.
• Synonym改革かいかくWrittenWritten register. Reforming organizations and systems, as in 「税制改革」, often implying large-scale adjustment; 「改良」 can apply to things, methods and systems alike.
• Related刷新さっしんWrittenWritten register: sweeping away old abuses for a complete renewal, as in 「人事刷新」; the change is drastic, while 「改良」 just removes defects to make things better.
• Related改新かいしんWrittenWritten register. Reforming old institutions to renew them; mostly historical, as in 「大化の改新」. 「改良」 applies to improving all sorts of things.
• Related改変かいへんNeutralAltering content so it differs from the original, not necessarily for the better, as in 「原作の改変」; 「改良」 always means a change for the better.
• Related改正かいせいWrittenWritten register. Revising flaws in laws and regulations, as in 「法改正」; for improving varieties, soil or products, say 「改良」.
• Related革新かくしんWrittenWritten register. Turning the old into the new, as in 「技術革新」, with emphasis on innovation; 「改良」 removes defects on the existing basis to make things better.
• Related変革へんかくWrittenWritten register. Fundamentally changing systems or society; 「改良」 keeps the original basis and improves it, without any sense of fundamental change.
• Related改修かいしゅうNeutralRepairing or rebuilding structures such as buildings and roads, as in 「道路の改修」; its objects are facilities, while 「改良」 covers a much wider range.
• Related更改こうかいWrittenWritten register. Renewal or replacement; in law, changing the parties or the content of an obligation. Unlike 「改良」, it carries no judgement that things get better.
• Related一新いっしんNeutralRenewing everything for a fresh look, as in 「面目を一新する」; 「改良」 only removes the bad parts and does not necessarily renew the whole.
• Related改めるあらためるNeutralA verb covering change and correction in general, also inspection; 「改良」 is a noun referring specifically to removing defects and making something better.
• Related向上こうじょうNeutralIntransitive: a level or ability rising, as in 「品質が向上する」; 「改良」 is a deliberate, human act of improving a thing.
• Related進歩しんぽNeutralIntransitive: technology, society and the like moving forward for the better; 「改良」 is a deliberate improvement of one specific thing.
• Related上達じょうたつNeutralSaid of skills and abilities becoming proficient, as in 「日本語が上達する」; it describes growing skill, while 「改良」 is applied to things and methods.
• Related発展はってんNeutralExpansion and growth into a higher stage, as in 「経済発展」; intransitive, whereas 「改良」 is a deliberate human improvement.
• Related進展しんてんNeutralA situation moving ahead, as in 「交渉が進展する」, with no nuance of improvement; 「改良」 means making a thing better.
• Related発達はったつNeutralGrowth of body and mind, or growth in scale; also used of technology and typhoons, as in 「台風が発達する」. 「改良」 is a deliberate human improvement.
• Related進みすすみNeutralA noun for progress or pace of work, as in 「仕事の進み」, fairly colloquial; 「改良」 is about improving things and has nothing to do with pace.
• Related変えるかえるNeutralThe most general verb of changing, not necessarily for the better; 「改良」 is always a change for the better and leans toward written style.
• Related直すなおすNeutralA verb for repairing things and correcting mistakes, including restoring something broken to its original state; 「改良」 builds on what exists to make it better.
• Related正すただすNeutralA verb for correcting errors or straightening posture, as in 「姿勢を正す」; 「改良」 removes defects to make a thing better and is not limited to error correction.
• Related変改へんかいWrittenWritten register. Change or revision, and also going back on a promise; very rare. In daily speech use 「変更」, and for improving something use 「改良」.
• Related進境しんきょうWrittenWritten register. Progress in arts or learning, as in 「進境著しい」; very rare. 「改良」 is a deliberate improvement of things.
• Antonym改悪かいあくNeutralAntonym: changing something for the worse, as in 「制度の改悪」; it sits exactly opposite to 「改良」 on the better-or-worse axis.
• Antonym悪化あっかNeutralAntonym: a situation or condition getting worse; intransitive and very common in daily use. It stands opposite to 「改良」 on the better-or-worse axis.

Use 「改良」 for removing defects and making a thing, method or system better, as in 「品種改良」. For improving a situation rather than the thing itself, use 「改善」; for thorough renewal, 「刷新」; for large-scale reform of organizations or systems, 「改革」; for revising laws, 「改正」; for repairing buildings and roads, 「改修」. 「変革」 implies fundamental change and 「革新」 innovation, while 「改変」 and 「変える」 are changes not necessarily for the better. The antonyms are 「改悪」, a change for the worse, and 「悪化」, things getting worse.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 悪わるい部分ぶぶんを改あらため、より良よい物ものにすること。