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