Meaning of 修
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to decorate
- to embellish
- to repair
- to build
- to write
- to cultivate
- to study
- to take (a class)
- surname Xiu
- variant of 修[xiu1]
How to use 修
修 (xiū) is a verb for fixing or improving things, from repairing machines to building roads to editing writing. It often appears in compounds like 修理 (xiūlǐ) and 修改 (xiūgǎi). Example: 我的电脑坏了，要去修一下。(Wǒ de diànnǎo huài le, yào qù xiū yíxià.) My computer broke, I need to get it fixed.
Picture a person 亻 standing next to a line, with three strokes 彡 at the bottom like brush marks. Someone carefully adding finishing strokes is fixing up, decorating, or improving something, which is the core idea of 修 (xiū).
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 修 (xiū) with 條/条 (tiáo) because the top parts look alike. Remember that 修 has 彡 (three slanted strokes) at the bottom right, not 木. Also, 修 is not a generic word for "make", so do not use it for making food or crafts from scratch.
修 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
修 xiū · to decorate · 9 strokes
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- 9
Related words
Words that share a character with 修.
| 修改 | xiūgǎi | to amend; to alter |
| 修理 | xiūlǐ | to repair; to fix |
| 装修 | zhuāngxiū | to decorate; interior decoration |
| 维修 | wéixiū | maintenance (of equipment); to protect and maintain |
| 修复 | xiūfù | to restore; to renovate; (computing) to repair (a corrupted file etc) |
| 修建 | xiūjiàn | to build; to construct |
| 修养 | xiūyǎng | accomplishment; training |
| 选修 | xuǎnxiū | (at a school) to take as an elective; an elective |
| 修车 | xiū chē | to repair a bike (car etc) |
| 必修 | bìxiū | (of an academic course) required; compulsory |
| 修正 | xiūzhèng | to revise; to amend; to rectify |
| 修补 | xiūbǔ | to mend |
Questions about 修
What does 修 mean?
修 (xiū) means "to decorate; to embellish" and is used as a verb.
How do you write 修?
修 is made of 1 character: 修 (9 strokes). That is 9 strokes in total.
Is 修 an HSK word?
Yes. 修 is on the HSK 3 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 修理 and 修改?
修理 (xiūlǐ) means to repair physical objects like bikes, phones, or houses. 修改 (xiūgǎi) means to revise or change content, such as an essay, a plan, or a contract.
Can 修 mean to build something new?
Yes. In words like 修建 (xiūjiàn) and phrases like 修路 (xiū lù, build a road), 修 refers to constructing roads, bridges, and buildings. It is common for large construction projects.