Word
改良
Meaning in Englishimprovement, reform
Animated kanji stroke order
Word context
What it means
Improvement or refinement achieved through modification or optimization; it refers to making something better by altering its design, process, or function, especially in technical, industrial, or research contexts.
Main meanings
- In engineering or product development, 改良 denotes systematic enhancements aimed at performance, durability, or usability.
- In scientific or research contexts, it refers to iterative improvements of methods or experimental systems.
- As 改良する it means to improve or to refine, typically by redesign or optimization.
How to use it
Used in formal technical writing, manufacturing, and research to describe deliberate enhancements; Example: 技術開発では新製品の機能を改良する。研究プロセスの改良を進める。農業分野で品種改良が行われる。
Variants and close terms
- 改善 (kaizen) — improvement
- 向上 (kōjō) — enhancement
- 進化 (shinka) — evolution, refinement
- 悪化 (akka) — deterioration
Composition
- 改: change, modify; alter
- 良: good, favorable; quality
- Together they denote making something better by changing it for the good
Etymology
etimologia: The kanji 改 means change or revise, and 良 means good; together they form a compound meaning a change that yields a better state. The standard on'yomi reading is kairyō, which solidifies as the common pronunciation of the compound.
Word class
Noun (名詞); also forms 改良する (to improve) as a suru-verb
Related words by kanji and components
N1
改悪
kaiaku
deterioration, changing for the worse
N1
改革
kaikaku
reform, reformation, innovation
N1
改修
kaishuu
repair, improvement
N1
改定
kaitei
reform
N1
改訂
kaitei
revision
N1
改まる
aratamaru
to be renewed; to be formal
N1
善良
zenryou
goodness, excellence, virtue
N1
不良
furyou
badness, delinquent, failure
N1
良し
yoshi
all right!