Translation guide
Expressing transformation or conversion from one state or form to another.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to change' or 'to be transformed'. Often used with に to indicate the result.
信号が青に変わった。
The traffic light changed to green.
A formal suffix-like verb meaning 'to change into', often used in technical or literary contexts.
水蒸気が水滴化する。
Water vapor condenses into droplets.
To actively cause something to change into another form.
Transitive pattern meaning 'to make something into N'. Used when someone causes the change.
彼はその部屋を書斎にした。
He changed the room into a study.
Transitive verb meaning 'to change' or 'to transform'. Often used with に to indicate the result.
彼女は髪型をショートに変えた。
She changed her hairstyle into a short cut.
To put on different clothes.
The standard verb for changing clothes. Can be used alone or with に to specify what you change into.
パジャマに着替えた。
I changed into pajamas.
A noun phrase meaning 'to do a change of clothes'.
ジムで着替えをした。
I changed clothes at the gym.
To exchange or convert one thing into another, especially currency or units.
Specifically for exchanging money into another currency.
ドルを円に両替した。
I changed dollars into yen.
To convert units or values, often used in calculations.
キロメートルをマイルに換算する。
Convert kilometers into miles.
になる is intransitive (something becomes), while にする is transitive (someone makes something become).
部屋がきれいになった。
The room became clean.
部屋をきれいにした。
I made the room clean.
Avoid directly translating 'change into' as に変わる/変える in all contexts. For clothes, use 着替える; for money, use 両替する.