更新 vs 変更 vs 修正 vs 編集: Japanese Update, Change, Fix, Revise, Edit, Profile Settings, App Updates, and Document Correction Words Explained

You open a Japanese app and see a button that says 更新. On the same screen, there is a link labeled 変更. In your email inbox, a customer service message asks you to 修正 a form you submitted. And somewhere in the settings menu, there is a page for 編集.

Four different words. All of them translate loosely to “update,” “change,” “fix,” or “edit” in English. And yet they are not interchangeable — choosing the wrong one in a business email or on a form can sound awkward, or worse, send the wrong message entirely.

This guide breaks down 更新（こうしん）, 変更（へんこう）, 修正（しゅうせい）, and 編集（へんしゅう）— four of the most common and most confused words in everyday Japanese digital life. By the end, you will know which one to use when you update an app, change your address, fix a typo, or edit a profile.

Quick Answer — 更新 vs 変更 vs 修正 vs 編集

Before diving into the details, here is the fastest way to tell these four words apart.

更新 means update or renew to a newer state

更新（こうしん）carries the idea of moving something forward in time or version — from an older state to a newer one. Think of app updates, software patches, contract renewals, and “last updated” dates on web pages. The key nuance is that 更新 involves a temporal or version dimension: something existed before and now exists in a more current form.

Typical encounters: ソフトウェアの更新（software update）, 更新日（last updated date）, 契約を更新する（to renew a contract）, パスポートを更新する（to renew a passport）

変更 means change something

変更（へんこう）is the broadest of the four words. It simply means to change one thing to another — without any implication that something was wrong before, or that you are making it newer. It is a neutral, factual word for substituting one value with a different one.

Typical encounters: 住所変更（address change）, 設定を変更する（to change settings）, 予定を変更する（to change a schedule）, パスワードを変更する（to change a password）

修正 means fix or revise something imperfect

修正（しゅうせい）implies that something was not quite right and needs to be corrected or adjusted. It does not require a dramatic error — even a minor improvement counts as 修正. But there is always a sense that the original was imperfect, incomplete, or needed polishing.

Typical encounters: 誤字を修正する（to fix a typo）, 修正版（revised version）, 修正点（points needing revision / corrections to be made）, 内容を修正する（to revise the content）

編集 means edit content

編集（へんしゅう）is specifically about working with content — text, video, images, articles. It is the word for what an editor does. It does not carry any implication of the original being wrong. You 編集 something because you want to shape, arrange, or improve the content, not necessarily because there was a mistake.

Typical encounters: プロフィールを編集する（to edit a profile）, 動画を編集する（to edit a video）, 記事を編集する（to edit an article）, 編集画面（editing screen / editor view）, 編集履歴（edit history）

Why English speakers mix these up

English collapses several distinct concepts into a handful of overlapping words. “update your profile” and “update your app” both use “update” — but in Japanese the first is 編集 and the second is 更新. “Change your address” and “fix your address (because it was wrong)” both use words that might translate as “change” — but the first is 変更 and the second is 修正 or 訂正. Once you understand the Japanese distinctions, the logic becomes very clear.

Yuka

So if I want to say “update my profile,” which word do I use? The app button says 編集 but I was going to say 更新…

Rei

The app button is correct — プロフィールを編集する is the natural phrase. 編集 is for editing content. 更新 would sound like you are pushing a version update, not filling in your bio.

What Does 更新 Mean?

更新 as update or renewal

更新（こうしん）is built from two kanji: 更（さら・こう）meaning “again” or “anew,” and 新（しん）meaning “new.” Together they create the idea of making something new again — bringing something up to a newer, more current state. This word covers two related but distinct uses: updating (making something current) and renewing (extending validity into the future).

The word appears everywhere in digital Japanese: app stores say 更新 when a new version is available; websites show 最終更新日（さいしゅうこうしんび）for the last-updated date; government services ask you to 更新 your driver’s license or passport when they are about to expire.

アプリを更新する / ソフトウェアの更新

When a Japanese app store shows a number badge on the App Store or Google Play icon, the page you open is headed ソフトウェアアップデート or アプリの更新. Both 更新 and アップデート (the loanword) are used here — more on that distinction below. The verb phrase is アプリを更新する or ソフトウェアを更新する.

Example:
アプリを最新バージョンに更新してください。
Apuri wo saishin baajyon ni koushin shite kudasai.
Please update the app to the latest version.

Example:
セキュリティ上の問題のため、ソフトウェアの更新が必要です。
Sekyuriti-jou no mondai no tame, sofutouea no koushin ga hitsuyou desu.
A software update is required due to a security issue.

契約を更新する / 更新日

In the context of contracts, leases, subscriptions, and official documents, 更新 means renewal — extending the validity of something that would otherwise expire. This is one of the most practical uses of 更新 in daily Japanese life. When your apartment lease expires, you 契約を更新する. When your driver’s license is due, you 免許を更新する.

更新日（こうしんび）is the renewal date or the last-updated date, depending on context. On a webpage it means “last updated on [date].” On a contract or license it means “renewal date.”

Example:
契約の更新日は来月の15日です。
Keiyaku no koushinbi wa raigetsu no juugonichi desu.
The contract renewal date is the 15th of next month.

Example:
運転免許証の更新を忘れないようにしてください。
Unten menkyoshou no koushin wo wasurenai you ni shite kudasai.
Please make sure not to forget to renew your driver’s license.

Example:
このページの最終更新日は2026年3月1日です。
Kono peeji no saishuu koushinbi wa nisen nijuuroku nen sangatsu tsuitachi desu.
The last updated date of this page is March 1, 2026.

Common example sentences

データを更新する — refreshing data:
ページを再読み込みして、最新のデータに更新してください。
Peeji wo saiyomikomi shite, saishin no deeta ni koushin shite kudasai.
Please reload the page to refresh it with the latest data.

記録を更新する — breaking a record:
彼女は世界記録を更新した。
Kanojo wa sekai kiroku wo koushin shita.
She broke (updated/set) the world record.

Note on 記録を更新する: This usage is a common idiom in Japanese sports broadcasting. 更新 carries the nuance of a new high — the record has been brought to a newer, higher state.

What Does 変更 Mean?

変更 as change

変更（へんこう）is the everyday word for changing a value, setting, plan, or detail from one thing to another. The kanji break down as 変（へん）”change” and 更（こう）”again / anew” — but in practice 変更 functions as a single unit meaning “change” with a clean, neutral tone. There is no suggestion that the original value was wrong or inferior. You 変更 something simply because you want it to be different now.

変更 is extremely common on forms, in customer service emails, and in business Japanese. It appears as both a noun (変更 = the change) and a verb (変更する = to change). You will also frequently see 変更点（へんこうてん）meaning “the changed parts” or “points of change” — useful in meeting minutes, release notes, and document revision summaries.

住所を変更する / 設定を変更する

Two of the most common fixed phrases with 変更 involve address changes and setting changes. On Japanese apps and websites, account settings pages almost always use 変更 for input fields where you swap old information for new.

Example:
引越しのため、住所を変更したいのですが。
Hikkoshi no tame, juusho wo henkou shitai no desu ga.
I would like to change my address because I am moving.

Example:
セキュリティのため、パスワードを変更してください。
Sekyuriti no tame, pasuwaado wo henkou shite kudasai.
Please change your password for security purposes.

Example:
通知設定を変更するには、プロフィールページに移動してください。
Tsuuchi settei wo henkou suru ni wa, purofiru peeji ni idou shite kudasai.
To change notification settings, please go to the profile page.

予約を変更する / 変更点

In travel and appointments, 予約を変更する（よやくをへんこうする）is the standard phrase for changing a reservation — swapping a date, time, or room type. This is exactly what you say to a hotel, restaurant, or airline when your plans shift.

変更点（へんこうてん）is a useful compound noun meaning “points of change” or “what has changed.” It appears frequently in document handoffs, release notes, and business communications where the writer lists specifically what has been updated since the last version.

Example:
チェックインの日程を変更できますか？
Chekkuin no nittei wo henkou dekimasu ka?
Can I change the check-in date?

Example:
今回の変更点は以下の通りです。
Konkai no henkouten wa ika no toori desu.
The changes made this time are as follows.

Common example sentences

プランを変更する — changing a subscription plan:
プレミアムプランに変更したいのですが、手続きを教えていただけますか？
Puremiamu puran ni henkou shitai no desu ga, tetsuzuki wo oshiete itadakemasu ka?
I would like to change to the premium plan — could you explain the procedure?

方針を変更する — changing a policy or direction:
会社の方針が変更されました。
Kaisha no houshin ga henkou saremashita.
The company’s policy has been changed.

Yuka

If I moved and need to tell a company my new address, do I say 住所を変更する or 住所を更新する?

Rei

住所を変更する is correct. You are swapping one address for another — that is 変更. 更新 would imply you are bringing your address to a newer version of itself, which is odd. However, some web forms do say 情報を更新する for the whole profile update action — so you may see both in the wild.

What Does 修正 Mean?

修正 as fix or revision

修正（しゅうせい）is the word for correcting or adjusting something that was imperfect, incomplete, or slightly wrong. The kanji 修（しゅう）means “to repair, to cultivate, to improve” and 正（せい）means “correct” or “right.” Together they point toward bringing something toward correctness.

Crucially, 修正 does not require a major error. A minor tweak to wording, a small factual correction, or a slight layout adjustment all count as 修正. What matters is the underlying motivation: something needed improvement or fixing, and now it has been addressed.

修正 appears constantly in document workflows: 修正版（しゅうせいばん）means “revised version,” 修正点（しゅうせいてん）means “items needing revision” or “correction points,” and 修正をお願いします is the standard business phrase for asking someone to correct or revise a document.

誤字を修正する / 内容を修正する

Typo correction is one of the most common uses of 修正 in daily writing. 誤字（ごじ）means a written character error (wrong kanji, wrong word), and 脱字（だつじ）means a missing character. Both are fixed with 修正.

Example:
申し込みフォームに誤字がありましたので、修正していただけますか？
Moushikomi foomu ni goji ga arimashita node, shuusei shite itadakemasu ka?
There was a typo on the application form — could you please correct it?

Example:
内容を一部修正しました。修正点は赤字でご確認ください。
Naiyou wo ichibu shuusei shimashita. Shuuseiden wa akaji de gokakunin kudasai.
I have revised part of the content. Please check the revision points in red.

修正点 / 修正版

修正点（しゅうせいてん）and 修正版（しゅうせいばん）are two compound nouns you will encounter constantly in business and creative work. 修正点 is a list or set of items that need fixing; 修正版 is the revised version of a document after corrections have been applied.

Example:
修正点をリストアップして、明日の会議で共有します。
Shuuseiden wo risuto appu shite, ashita no kaigi de kyouyuu shimasu.
I will list the revision points and share them at tomorrow’s meeting.

Example:
修正版の資料を添付いたします。
Shuuseiban no shiryou wo tenpu itashimasu.
I am attaching the revised version of the document.

訂正 vs 修正 — a brief comparison

訂正（ていせい）is a related word that also means correction, but it is specifically used when something was objectively wrong — a factual error, a misprinted name, an incorrect figure — and must be officially corrected. 修正 is broader and can include improvements and tweaks that were not strictly errors. 訂正 is more formal and definitive; 修正 is more everyday and flexible.

訂正 in formal contexts:
先ほどの説明に誤りがありました。訂正してお詫び申し上げます。
Sakihodo no setsumei ni ayamari ga arimashita. Teisei shite owabi moushiagemasu.
There was an error in my earlier explanation. I correct it and sincerely apologize.

You will see 訂正 in formal announcements, legal notices, and published errata. You will see 修正 in document review emails, software changelogs, and creative feedback.

Common example sentences

写真を修正する — retouching or editing a photo:
明るさとコントラストを修正しました。
Akarusa to kontorasuto wo shuusei shimashita.
I adjusted the brightness and contrast.

計画を修正する — revising a plan:
スケジュールを修正して、再提出します。
Sukejuuru wo shuusei shite, saiteishutsu shimasu.
I will revise the schedule and resubmit it.

コードを修正する — fixing code (programming context):
バグを修正したバージョンをリリースしました。
Bagu wo shuusei shita baajyon wo ririisuuo shimashita.
We released a version with the bug fixed.

What Does 編集 Mean?

編集 as editing content

編集（へんしゅう）is the word for editing, curating, or producing content — text, video, audio, images, articles, datasets. The kanji 編（へん）means “to compile, to weave together” and 集（しゅう）means “to gather, to collect.” The original meaning was the work of compiling and organizing a book or publication, which is still reflected in 編集者（へんしゅうしゃ）meaning “editor” (in publishing).

In modern digital Japanese, 編集 is the standard word on any interface where you work with content directly. When an app shows you an editable field, the button is labeled 編集. The editing screen is called 編集画面（へんしゅうがめん）. The revision history log in a wiki or document editor is 編集履歴（へんしゅうりれき）.

Crucially, 編集 does not imply there was anything wrong with the original. You 編集 your profile to add a new photo. You 編集 a video to cut out the slow parts. The motivation is creative or organizational — not remedial.

プロフィールを編集する / 編集画面

プロフィールを編集する（プロフィールをへんしゅうする）is the standard phrase for editing a profile on any Japanese app, social media platform, or service. The button you tap to enter edit mode is 編集, and the view you see is the 編集画面. When you finish, you tap 保存（ほぞん）— “save” — to apply your changes.

Example:
プロフィール写真を変えるには、編集ボタンをタップしてください。
Purofiru shashin wo kaeru ni wa, henshuu botan wo tappu shite kudasai.
To change your profile photo, please tap the Edit button.

Example:
編集画面で自己紹介文を入力してください。
Henshuu gamen de jikoshoukaibun wo nyuuryoku shite kudasai.
Please enter your self-introduction text on the editing screen.

動画を編集する / 記事を編集する

動画編集（どうがへんしゅう）— video editing — is one of the most common compound uses of 編集 in modern Japanese. YouTube content creators, social media users, and film professionals all 動画を編集する. Similarly, 記事を編集する is how bloggers, journalists, and Wikipedia contributors describe their work on an article.

Example:
旅行の動画を編集して、YouTubeにアップロードしました。
Ryokou no douga wo henshuu shite, Yuuchuubu ni appuroodo shimashita.
I edited the travel video and uploaded it to YouTube.

Example:
記事の内容は、編集者が確認してから公開されます。
Kiji no naiyou wa, henshuusha ga kakunin shite kara koukai saremasu.
The article content will be published after the editor has reviewed it.

Example:
この文書は編集履歴で変更内容を確認できます。
Kono bunsho wa henshuu rireki de henkou naiyou wo kakunin dekimasu.
You can check the changes to this document via the edit history.

Common example sentences

テキストを編集する — editing text:
本文を自由に編集してください。
Honbun wo jiyuu ni henshuu shite kudasai.
Please edit the body text freely.

Noticing the 編集 button on apps:
右上の「編集」ボタンを押すと、情報を変更できます。
Migiue no “henshuu” botan wo osu to, jouhou wo henkou dekimasu.
Press the “Edit” button in the top right to change your information.

Note on 保存 (save): Whenever you see 編集 in an app, look for 保存（ほぞん）nearby. 編集 puts you into edit mode; 保存 locks in your changes. Forgetting to tap 保存 after 編集 is a universal frustration — in Japanese and every other language.

Pairwise Comparisons

更新 vs 変更 — bringing up to date vs changing details

更新 and 変更 are the pair most likely to confuse learners on web forms and account management pages, because some websites use them interchangeably in UI copy. The underlying distinction is clear, though: 更新 is about time and version — moving something from an old state to a new state. 変更 is about value substitution — swapping one thing for another regardless of time.

変更 vs 修正 — changing something vs fixing something wrong

変更 is neutral — you change something because you want it to be different. 修正 implies something was imperfect or needed correcting. The original did not necessarily need to change; with 変更, you are simply updating it. But with 修正, you are responding to a flaw, a gap, or an imprecision.

変更 example (neutral change):
会議室をAからBに変更しました。
Kaigishitsu wo A kara B ni henkou shimashita.
I changed the meeting room from A to B. (Nothing was wrong with Room A — plans just changed.)

修正 example (fixing something imperfect):
ご指摘の箇所を修正いたしました。
Goshiteki no kasho wo shuusei itashimashita.
I have corrected the section you pointed out. (Something was pointed out as needing improvement.)

修正 vs 編集 — fixing/revising vs editing content broadly

修正 and 編集 overlap in content work — both happen when you are improving a document or article. The distinction is motivation and scope. 修正 is targeted: you identified specific flaws and you are fixing them. 編集 is broader: you are working with the content as a whole — restructuring, refining, adding, removing — without necessarily implying anything was wrong.

Think of the difference between a proofreader (修正) and an editor (編集). The proofreader fixes errors. The editor shapes the piece.

更新 vs アップデート — Japanese term vs tech UI loanword

アップデート is the katakana loanword directly from English “update.” In tech contexts — especially in app stores and software interfaces — アップデート and 更新 are often used interchangeably, and native Japanese speakers do not usually consider one more correct than the other in digital contexts. Apple’s iOS uses ソフトウェア・アップデート; many Android apps use アプリを更新する. Either is understood.

Outside of tech, however, アップデート sounds out of place. You would not say 契約をアップデートする (contract renewal) or 記録をアップデートする (breaking a record) — 更新 is the correct word for those. Use アップデート when the context is clearly software or technology; use 更新 everywhere else.

Common Mistakes English Speakers Make

Translating every “update” as 更新

Because 更新 is the most “update”-like word, English speakers default to it for everything. But “update your profile” is プロフィールを編集する, not プロフィールを更新する. And “please update the document” in the sense of “please revise it” is 資料を修正してください, not 資料を更新してください. 更新 is specifically for version/time-based updates, not for all editing actions.

Saying プロフィールを修正する when 編集 is better

If your profile is perfectly fine but you want to add a new photo or change your bio, say プロフィールを編集する — not 修正する. 修正 implies there was an error or something inadequate in the profile. If someone flags an actual mistake in your profile information, then 修正 is appropriate. Context is key.

Saying 住所を更新する when 変更 is clearer

住所変更（じゅうしょへんこう）is the standard fixed phrase for notifying institutions of an address change. Saying 住所を更新する is not wrong, and some web forms do use it, but 住所を変更する is clearer and more universally understood — especially in formal or official contexts like notifying a bank or government office.

Confusing 修正 and 訂正

Both 修正（しゅうせい）and 訂正（ていせい）involve fixing errors, but they differ in formality and degree. 修正 is everyday and flexible — any kind of improvement or correction. 訂正 is more formal and implies a definitive acknowledgment that something was objectively wrong. In a casual email, 修正 is fine. In a formal business retraction, official announcement, or legal document, 訂正 is expected.

Saying 修正 when 訂正 is expected can sound insufficiently serious, while saying 訂正 in casual feedback can sound stiff and unnecessarily severe.

Confusing 更新 and 保存

更新（こうしん）means update/renew. 保存（ほぞん）means save. In Japanese web interfaces these are distinct actions: 更新 often refers to syncing or refreshing data from a server, while 保存 means committing your local changes to storage. Do not mix them up on forms: pressing 更新 might reload the page (wiping your unsaved input), while pressing 保存 saves it. Always look for 保存 when you want to lock in changes after editing.

Yuka

I made the mistake of clicking 更新 instead of 保存 on a form once. Lost everything I typed…

Rei

That is a very common frustration. On some Japanese sites, 更新 is a page-refresh button. Always find the 保存 button before you click anything else. Some forms combine them into a single 保存して更新 button, which saves and then refreshes — that one is safe.

Decision Rule: Which Word Should You Use?

Use the flowchart below to pick the right word for any situation. It covers the most common decision points English speakers face.

Are you working with content (text, video, profile, article)?
  └─ YES → Is it a broad edit / creative shaping of the content?
            ├─ YES → 編集 (henshuu)   [e.g. プロフィールを編集する]
            └─ NO  → Was there a specific flaw or error to fix?
                      ├─ YES → 修正 (shuusei)  [e.g. 誤字を修正する]
                      └─ Formal retraction / official correction → 訂正 (teisei)

Are you moving something to a newer version / time state?
  └─ YES → 更新 (koushin)   [e.g. アプリを更新する, 契約を更新する]
           (Tech UI: アップデート also acceptable)

Are you swapping one value for another (address, plan, time, setting)?
  └─ YES → 変更 (henkou)    [e.g. 住所を変更する, 予定を変更する]

Saving changes you just made?
  └─ YES → 保存 (hozon)     [always look for this after 編集 or 変更]

Here is the full comparison at a glance:

Quick Quiz

Test your understanding. Fill in the blank with the best word from: 更新 / 変更 / 修正 / 編集 / 保存 / 訂正.

1. アプリを最新バージョンに___してください。
Please update the app to the latest version.

2. プロフィール写真を変えたいので、___ボタンをタップします。
I want to change my profile photo, so I will tap the ___ button.

3. フォームに誤字がありましたので、___していただけますか？
There was a typo on the form — could you please ___ it?

4. 引越しのため、住所を___したいのですが。
I would like to ___ my address because I am moving.

5. 編集が終わったら、必ず___ボタンを押してください。
When you finish editing, please make sure to press the ___ button.

6. 先ほどの発表に誤りがありました。___してお詫び申し上げます。
There was an error in the earlier announcement. I ___ it and sincerely apologize.

Answers:

1. 更新 — Moving the app to a newer version = 更新.
2. 編集 — Editing a profile (content editing, no error implied) = 編集.
3. 修正 — Fixing a typo (something imperfect) = 修正.
4. 変更 — Changing an address (value substitution) = 変更.
5. 保存 — Saving after editing = 保存.
6. 訂正 — Formally correcting an objective error in an announcement = 訂正.

Want to practice these words further? Try writing one sentence of your own for each word and share it in the comments below — the best way to lock in new vocabulary is to use it in your own context.

If you are preparing for the JLPT, 更新, 変更, and 修正 all appear in N3–N2 vocabulary lists. 編集 is common in real-world digital Japanese and increasingly tested at N3. Getting these distinctions clear now will save you from second-guessing on the day of your exam.

Looking to practice these words with a native Japanese speaker? italki connects you with qualified Japanese tutors for one-on-one conversation practice — a great way to test your vocabulary in realistic business and everyday scenarios. Many tutors are happy to focus sessions on document writing, app navigation phrases, or office Japanese, which are exactly the contexts where 更新, 変更, 修正, and 編集 come up most naturally.

Have a question about these four words, or an example sentence you are not sure about? Drop it in the comments — we read every question and are happy to help you find the right word for your situation.

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Japanese Social Media and Internet Slang Vocabulary: iine, Foro, Kusa, w, Ripu, DM, Enjo, Comment... You open the comments on a Japanese YouTube video. Someone posts wwwww. Someone else replies 草. A third person just writes それな. You have been studying Ja...