reformation, change, modify, mend, renew, examine, inspect, search
改 centers on making something different for the better: reforming, changing, modifying, mending, or renewing. The examine/inspect/search meanings are natural extensions of looking closely to identify what needs to change.
改 combines 己 (self) with 攵 (action, hand with a stick), suggesting the idea of changing oneself or taking action to reform.
The left side 己 looks like a coiled self, and the right side 攵 is a hand holding a stick. Imagine using the stick to reshape yourself—reforming and changing for the better.
For カイ, picture a person named Kai who is always reforming things: Kai -> カイ, and Kai is busy modifying and mending everything.
betterment; improvement
revision; amendment; alteration
another time; again; over again; once again; anew
reform; reformation; reorganization
remodeling; remodelling; reconstruction; conversion; alteration; renovation; modification; reshuffling (e.g. a cabinet); reorganization; restructuring
improvement; reform
repair; improvement
to change; to alter; to revise; to replace
examination of tickets
revision (of a rule, price, etc.); alteration; change
remodelling; remodeling; reorganization; reorganisation
name change
revision (of text); alteration; change
alteration; falsification; faking
constitutional change; revising the constitution
structural alteration (of a building); reconstruction; rebuilding; remodelling; remodeling
religious conversion
reorganization; reorganisation
election (for a seat or position at the end of a term)
to be renewed; to change
reorganization; reorganisation; reshuffle
renewal; extension; revision
reformation
ticket barrier; ticket gate; wicket