改头换面 gǎi tóu huàn miàn

to change appearance only; cosmetic reform

Word data

HSK Not in HSK
Frequency 11190th word

Definitions

  1. 1. to adjust one's head and turn one's face (idiom); cosmetic changes
  2. 2. Despite superficially new policies, the substance remains unchanged.

Characters

Character Meaning
改 gǎi HSK 4
to change; to alter; to correct
头 tóu HSK 3
head; the top; end
换 huàn HSK 3
to change (clothes etc); to exchange; to switch
面 miàn HSK 1
face; surface; aspect