# 改 — reform; revise

改 means “reform; revise”. It is a JLPT N3 kanji written with 7 strokes. On'yomi: カイ (kai). Kun'yomi: あらた(める) (aratameru). You'll see it in words such as 改める (aratameru, “to change; to alter”).

- Meaning: reform; revise
- On'yomi: カイ (kai)
- Kun'yomi: あらた(める) (aratameru)
- Strokes: 7
- Level: JLPT N3 · set Change & making 1

## How to remember 改

Point the pointer (攵) at yourself (己) and reform.

Parts: 己 self · 攵 pointer

## Words with 改

| Word | Reading | Meaning |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 改める | あらためる (aratameru) | to change; to alter |
| 改めて | あらためて (aratamete) | another time; again |
| 改まる | あらたまる (aratamaru) | to be renewed; to change |

## Don't confuse it with

[放](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/release/) · [枚](https://moji.ninja/n2-kanji/counter-for-flat-things/) · [攻](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/attack/) · [牧](https://moji.ninja/n1-kanji/pasture/)

## More in the “Change & making 1” set

[化](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/transform/) · [成](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/become/) · [設](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/set-up/) · [改](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/reform/) · [変](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/strange/) · [直](https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/fix/)

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From Moji Ninja (https://moji.ninja/), a free app for learning hiragana, katakana and the JLPT kanji from N5 to N1 with spaced repetition. Page: https://moji.ninja/n3-kanji/reform/. Last updated 2026-11-01.