変へん態たい

noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb

transformation; change of form

A somewhat formal or literary word for changing into a different form or nature. For everyday 'change', 変化 is usually more neutral.

• 物もの語がたりの中なかで、青せい年ねんは夜よるになると獣けものへと変へん態たいする。

  In the story, the young man transforms into a beast at night.

noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'

abnormality; deviance

Refers to an abnormal or deviant state, not necessarily sexual. As a standalone modern word this use can sound uncommon or technical, and it may be confused with the much more common 'pervert' sense.

• 古ふるい専せん門もん書しょでは、変へん態たいが異い常じょうな状じょう態たいを指さす語ごとして使つかわれることがある。

  In older technical books, 変態 is sometimes used as a word for an abnormal state.

noun, noun which may take the genitive case particle 'no'

sexual perversion; pervert

Often colloquial and derogatory when used of a person. It is an abbreviation of 変態性欲, but in everyday speech 変態 commonly means 'pervert' or 'creep'.

See also: 変態性欲

• 下した着ぎを盗ぬすむなんて、変へん態たいだよ。

  Stealing underwear? That's perverted.

noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb

metamorphosis

Biology term for an organism changing form during development, such as a tadpole becoming a frog or a larva becoming an adult insect.

• オタマジャクシは変へん態たいしてカエルになる。

  A tadpole undergoes metamorphosis and becomes a frog.

noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', intransitive verb

phase transformation; transition; modification

Technical use in chemistry and physics, especially for a material or structure changing phase, crystal form, or modification.

• 加か熱ねつすると、この合ごう金きんは別べつの結けっ晶しょう構こう造ぞうへ変へん態たいする。

  When heated, this alloy transforms into a different crystal structure.