变更 (biàn gēng) means 'alteration' or 'amendment' — a formal change to something previously established, such as rules, plans, contracts, or official information. The character 变 (biàn) means 'to change' or 'to transform', while 更 (gēng) means 'to replace' or 'to renew'; together, they emphasize a deliberate, often official or procedural modification rather than casual or spontaneous change.

This word is commonly used in administrative, legal, business, and bureaucratic contexts — for example, when updating personal registration details at a government office, revising a contract clause, or adjusting travel itineraries with an airline. It carries a neutral-to-formal register and is rarely used in casual daily conversation. Unlike more general verbs like 改 (gǎi), 变更 implies documentation, approval, or institutional recognition of the change.