补充 meaning in English

bǔchōng

to replenish; to supplement

HSK 3verbnounTraditional 補充13 strokes

Meaning of 补充

Definitions from CC-CEDICT.

bǔchōng

to replenish
to supplement
to complement
additional
supplementary

Measure word: 個|个

How to use 补充

补充 is used for adding what is missing: information, water, energy, nutrients, or points in a discussion. It also works as a modifier meaning supplementary, as in 补充材料 (bǔchōng cáiliào) supplementary materials. Example: 我补充一点。(Wǒ bǔchōng yì diǎn.) Let me add one more point.

补 (bǔ) means to patch or mend, like patching a hole in clothing, and 充 (chōng) means to fill up, as in 充电 (chōngdiàn) to charge a battery. Patch the gap and fill it up, and you have 补充 (bǔchōng), to supplement or replenish.

Common mistake: Learners sometimes confuse 补充 with 补偿 (bǔcháng). 补偿 means to compensate someone for a loss, not to add missing content, so 补偿水分 is wrong while 补充水分 (replenish fluids) is correct.

补充 in example sentences

Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.

请qǐng告gào诉sù我wǒ，我wǒ还hái有yǒu什shén么me需xū要yào补bǔ充chōng的de。

Please tell me what else I need to add.

您nín对duì我wǒ说shuō的de话huà有yǒu什shén么me要yào补bǔ充chōng的de吗ma？

Would you like to add anything to what I've said?

我wǒ刚gāng才cái说shuō的de内nèi容róng，你nǐ想xiǎng补bǔ充chōng么me？

Is there anything you want to add to what I just said?

听tīng说shuō适shì时shí地dì补bǔ充chōng水shuǐ分fèn可kě以yǐ预yù防fáng中zhòng暑shǔ。

I hear that keeping yourself hydrated at appropriate times can help prevent heatstroke.

Stroke order for each character

Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.

补 bǔ · to repair · 7 strokes

充 chōng · sufficient · 6 strokes

Related words

Words that share a character with 补充.

充满	chōngmǎn	full of; brimming with
充分	chōngfèn	ample; sufficient
充电	chōngdiàn	to recharge (a battery); (fig.) to recharge one's batteries (through rest or leisure)
充电器	chōngdiànqì	battery charger
补偿	bǔcháng	to compensate; to make up
充足	chōngzú	adequate; sufficient
补贴	bǔtiē	to subsidize; subsidy
补习	bǔxí	to take extra lessons in a cram school or with a private tutor
补助	bǔzhù	to subsidize; subsidy
补课	bǔkè	to make up missed lesson; to reschedule a class
补考	bǔkǎo	to sit for a makeup exam; to resit an exam
弥补	míbǔ	to complement; to make up for a deficiency

Questions about 补充

What does 补充 mean?

补充 (bǔchōng) means "to replenish; to supplement" and is used as a verb and noun.

How do you write 补充?

补充 is made of 2 characters: 补 (7 strokes), 充 (6 strokes). That is 13 strokes in total.

Is 补充 an HSK word?

Yes. 补充 is on the HSK 3 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.

How is 补充 written in traditional Chinese?

In traditional characters, 补充 is written 補充.

What is the difference between 补充 and 增加 (zēngjiā)?

增加 simply means to increase an amount. 补充 suggests filling in something that is lacking or used up, like replenishing supplies or adding a missing detail.

How do I use 补充 in a meeting or conversation?

A common phrase is 我来补充一下 (wǒ lái bǔchōng yíxià), meaning let me add something. You can also ask 还有什么要补充的吗？(Hái yǒu shénme yào bǔchōng de ma?) Is there anything else to add?