Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== xiū: 修 - To Repair, Fix, Build, Cultivate ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** xiu Chinese, 修 meaning, how to use xiu, repair in Chinese, fix in Chinese, build in Chinese, study in Chinese, cultivate in Chinese, self-cultivation, 修理, 修改, 修身, Chinese character for repair * **Summary:** Discover the versatile Chinese character **修 (xiū)**, a term that goes far beyond simple "repair." While it means to fix a bike or build a road, it's also central to profound cultural concepts like self-cultivation (**修身 xiūshēn**) and academic study. This page explores how **修 (xiū)** is used in everyday conversation, from revising documents to personal grooming, and delves into its deep roots in Chinese philosophy, making it an essential character for any learner to master. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** xiū * **Part of Speech:** Verb * **HSK Level:** HSK 4 (in words like [[修理]] and [[修改]]) * **Concise Definition:** To repair, fix, build, study, or cultivate. * **In a Nutshell:** At its heart, **修 (xiū)** is about the act of improving something through deliberate effort. This "something" can be a physical object like a car, a public work like a road, an intellectual product like an essay, or most profoundly, one's own character and moral standing. It implies a process of refinement, mending, and betterment. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **修** is an ideogrammic compound character. * **亻(rén):** The left-side radical is the "person" radical, indicating that the action is performed by a human. * **攸 (yōu):** The right-side component originally depicted a person with a walking stick, suggesting a regulated, methodical action or process. * **Combined Meaning:** The character powerfully combines a "person" (亻) with a "methodical process" (攸). This creates the meaning of a person actively and skillfully working to improve, decorate, or mend something. Whether fixing a watch or cultivating one's spirit, the action is deliberate and purposeful. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== The true depth of **修 (xiū)** is revealed in the concept of **修身 (xiūshēn)**, or "self-cultivation." This is a cornerstone of Confucian philosophy, famously expressed in the saying: `修身、齐家、治国、平天下` (xiū shēn, qí jiā, zhì guó, píng tiānxià), which means "Cultivate the self, regulate the family, govern the state, and bring peace to the world." * **Comparison with "Self-Improvement":** In Western culture, "self-improvement" often focuses on individualistic goals: gaining new skills for a better job, becoming fitter for personal health, or learning a hobby for personal enjoyment. While these are all positive, **修身 (xiūshēn)** is fundamentally a moral and social endeavor. The goal of cultivating oneself in Chinese tradition is not just for personal benefit, but to become a better family member, a more responsible citizen, and a harmonizing force in society. It's about developing virtues like integrity (诚), filial piety (孝), and propriety (礼). This makes **修 (xiū)** a word deeply connected to the collective good and social harmony. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== **修 (xiū)** is an extremely common and practical verb used in many different contexts. * **Repairing & Fixing:** This is the most direct meaning. It's used for everyday objects. * e.g., **修**车 (xiū chē - to fix a car), **修**电脑 (xiū diànnǎo - to fix a computer). The common word for this is [[修理]] (xiūlǐ). * **Building & Construction:** It's used for constructing infrastructure. * e.g., **修**路 (xiū lù - to build a road), **修**桥 (xiū qiáo - to build a bridge). * **Revising & Editing:** In academic or professional settings, it means to amend or modify. * e.g., **修**改合同 (xiūgǎi hétong - to revise a contract), **修**改论文 (xiūgǎi lùnwén - to edit a thesis). * **Studying & Academics:** It's used to mean "taking a course" or "majoring in a subject." * e.g., 我**修**了三门课 (Wǒ xiū le sān mén kè - I took three courses), 他**修**的是历史专业 (Tā xiū de shì lìshǐ zhuānyè - He's majoring in history). * **Personal Grooming:** For actions that involve trimming or shaping. * e.g., **修**指甲 (xiū zhǐjia - to trim/manicure fingernails), **修**眉毛 (xiū méimao - to shape eyebrows). ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 我的自行车坏了，你能帮我**修**一下吗？ * Pinyin: Wǒ de zìxíngchē huài le, nǐ néng bāng wǒ **xiū** yíxià ma? * English: My bicycle is broken, can you help me fix it? * Analysis: This is the most common, everyday use of **修**, meaning to repair a physical object. The phrase **修**一下 (xiū yíxià) softens the request, meaning "to fix it up a bit." * **Example 2:** * 政府计划明年**修**一条新的高速公路。 * Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ jìhuà míngnián **xiū** yì tiáo xīn de gāosù gōnglù. * English: The government plans to build a new highway next year. * Analysis: Here, **修** means "to build" or "construct," specifically for infrastructure like roads, bridges, and subways. * **Example 3:** * 老师让我把这篇文章**修**改一下。 * Pinyin: Lǎoshī ràng wǒ bǎ zhè piān wénzhāng **xiū**gǎi yíxià. * English: The teacher asked me to revise this article. * Analysis: In this context, **修改** (xiūgǎi) means to revise or amend a written work. The focus is on improving the quality of the text. * **Example 4:** * 我这个学期**修**了中国历史课。 * Pinyin: Wǒ zhège xuéqī **xiū** le Zhōngguó lìshǐ kè. * English: I'm taking a Chinese history course this semester. * Analysis: In an academic context, **修** is the standard verb for "to take a course." It implies a process of study and learning. * **Example 5:** * 他是一个很有**修**养的人，说话总是很客气。 * Pinyin: Tā shì yí ge hěn yǒu **xiū**yǎng de rén, shuōhuà zǒngshì hěn kèqi. * English: He is a very cultivated person; he's always very polite when he speaks. * Analysis: **修养** (xiūyǎng) refers to one's self-cultivation, poise, and education. It describes a person's character and demeanor, not a physical action. * **Example 6:** * 我们家正在**装**修，所以现在有点乱。 * Pinyin: Wǒmen jiā zhèngzài **zhuāngxiū**, suǒyǐ xiànzài yǒudiǎn luàn. * English: Our house is being renovated right now, so it's a bit messy. * Analysis: The word **装修** (zhuāngxiū) specifically means to renovate, remodel, or decorate an interior space like a home or office. * **Example 7:** * 在古代，学者们都非常重视**修**身养性。 * Pinyin: Zài gǔdài, xuézhěmen dōu fēicháng zhòngshì **xiū**shēn yǎngxìng. * English: In ancient times, scholars placed great importance on cultivating their character and nurturing their spirit. * Analysis: This sentence directly uses the philosophical concept of **修身** (xiūshēn). It refers to the moral and ethical cultivation of the self. * **Example 8:** * 这座古老的寺庙最近刚刚**修**缮过。 * Pinyin: Zhè zuò gǔlǎo de sìmiào zuìjìn gānggāng **xiū**shàn guò. * English: This ancient temple was just recently repaired and restored. * Analysis: **修缮** (xiūshàn) is a more formal word for repairing and maintaining, often used for buildings, especially historical ones. * **Example 9:** * 我想去美容院**修**一下眉毛。 * Pinyin: Wǒ xiǎng qù měiróngyuàn **xiū** yíxià méimao. * English: I want to go to the beauty salon to get my eyebrows shaped. * Analysis: This shows the use of **修** in personal grooming, meaning to trim, shape, or tidy up. * **Example 10:** * 经过多年的**修行**，他成为了得道高僧。 * Pinyin: Jīngguò duōnián de **xiūxíng**, tā chéngwéi le dédào gāosēng. * English: After many years of spiritual practice, he became an enlightened monk. * Analysis: **修行** (xiūxíng) refers to ascetic or spiritual practice, common in Buddhism and Taoism. It's about cultivating the spirit to achieve a higher state of being. ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== * **修 (xiū) vs. 解决 (jiějué):** This is a critical distinction for learners. You **修** a physical object or a system, but you **解决** a problem. You //fix a car// (**修**车), but you //solve a problem// (**解决**问题). * **Incorrect:** 我要**修**我的问题。 (Wǒ yào **xiū** wǒ de wèntí.) * **Correct:** 我要**解决**我的问题。 (Wǒ yào **jiějué** wǒ de wèntí.) * **修理 (xiūlǐ) vs. 维修 (wéixiū):** Both mean "to repair," but they have different connotations. * **修理 (xiūlǐ)** is the general, everyday word. You ask a friend to help you **修理** your bike. * **维修 (wéixiū)** is more formal and technical, often implying scheduled maintenance. It's used for large machinery, public facilities, or in professional contexts. The sign on a broken elevator would say "正在**维修**" (Zhèngzài wéixiū - Undergoing maintenance). ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[修理]] (xiūlǐ) - The most common verb for "to repair" or "to fix" an object. * [[修改]] (xiūgǎi) - To revise, amend, or modify something, usually a text, document, or plan. * [[维修]] (wéixiū) - A more formal term for "to maintain and repair," often used for equipment and infrastructure. * [[修养]] (xiūyǎng) - Personal cultivation, character, poise. Describes a person's good breeding and education. * [[修身]] (xiūshēn) - The core Confucian concept of "self-cultivation" for moral and ethical development. * [[装修]] (zhuāngxiū) - To renovate, remodel, or decorate a house or apartment. * [[修行]] (xiūxíng) - Spiritual or religious practice, especially in Buddhism or Taoism. * [[编修]] (biānxiū) - To compile and edit, often used for historical texts, dictionaries, or encyclopedias. * [[解决]] (jiějué) - Antonym in context. While **修** fixes objects, **解决** solves problems or resolves issues.