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修 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
修xiūto repairHSK 4, v, 9 strokes, radical 亻, rank #1496, Medium
修xiūsurname XiuHSK 4, v, 9 strokes, radical 亻, rank #1496, Medium
修xiūto decorateHSK 4, v, 9 strokes, radical 亻, rank #1496, Medium
修xiūto embellishHSK 4, v, 9 strokes, radical 亻, rank #1496, Medium
修xiūto buildHSK 4, v, 9 strokes, radical 亻, rank #1496, Medium
修xiūto writeHSK 4, v, 9 strokes, radical 亻, rank #1496, Medium
修xiūto cultivateHSK 4, v, 9 strokes, radical 亻, rank #1496, Medium
修xiūto studyHSK 4, v, 9 strokes, radical 亻, rank #1496, Medium
修xiūto take (a class)HSK 4, v, 9 strokes, radical 亻, rank #1496, Medium
修xiūdried meatHSK 4, v, 9 strokes, radical 亻, rank #1496, Medium
修xiūprivate teacher's remunerationHSK 4, v, 9 strokes, radical 亻, rank #1496, Medium
修xiūwitheredHSK 4, v, 9 strokes, radical 亻, rank #1496, Medium
xiū(xiu1) T1
  1. 1to repair
  2. 2to decorate
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
修xiū(xiu1)

The character 修 (xiū) primarily means 'to repair' or 'to decorate,' and can also imply the act of cultivating or studying. It is commonly used in contexts related to maintenance, improvement, and education, reflecting a process of enhancement or refinement. In a broader sense, it can indicate the need for personal or academic development.

Strokes9Radical亻Frequency#1496DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 修 extends beyond physical repair to include personal development and self-cultivation, reflecting a societal value placed on continuous improvement and learning.

Memory Tip

Imagine a craftsman (the radical 工) carefully repairing a broken item, enhancing its beauty. The sound 'xiū' can be remembered by picturing a 'shoe' (similar sound) that needs fixing or embellishing, connecting the idea of repair to everyday objects.

Meanings of 修

xiū(xiu1)
1to repair
2to decorate
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 修

修Simplified
9Strokes
亻Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#1496Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2

Podcast: 修

JasonAmy

Podcast: 修

Listen to Jason & Amy break down this word for you

AI Study Notes for 修

Quick Contrast

修 (xiū) vs 整 (zhěng) — use 修 for 'repair' or 'cultivate' in a more developmental or educational context, while 整 is more about 'to organize' or 'to fix' in a straightforward manner.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a craftsman (the radical 工) carefully repairing a broken item, enhancing its beauty. The sound 'xiū' can be remembered by picturing a 'shoe' (similar sound) that needs fixing or embellishing, connecting the idea of repair to everyday objects.

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 修 with similar characters like 休 (xiū, to rest), particularly in pronunciation. The tone is crucial; ensure you use the first tone (high and level). This character often collocates with words related to construction and education, such as 修理 (repair) and 修学 (study).

HSK Study Tips

Although 修 is not a specific HSK level word, it connects well with HSK 2 and 3 vocabulary related to daily activities and education. Students should focus on its various meanings and practice using it in sentences about repairing items or studying.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 修 extends beyond physical repair to include personal development and self-cultivation, reflecting a societal value placed on continuous improvement and learning.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 修 with related verbs like 学 (xué, to learn), using it incorrectly in sentences about studying. For example, saying '我修中文' (I repair Chinese) instead of '我学中文' (I study Chinese) is a common error.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 修

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Etymology of 修

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Explanation

Phonosemantic compound. 彡 represents the meaning and 攸 represents the sound. Simplified form of 脩.

Memory Hint

hair

Semantic (meaning)彡
+
Phonetic (sound)攸
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 修?

Decomposition of 修

IDS Structure⿱攸彡
修Full Character
=
攸you1
top
彡shan1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 修?

Write 修

修

Practice writing 修 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Grammar Patterns of 修

修 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 12 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.

Related grammar lessons6
是…的 emphasis是 + [V] + 的
HSK 3

Used to emphasize the action of the verb.

这是我修的。

Zhè shì wǒ xiū de.

This is what I repaired.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

自从____了公路，这儿的交通就方便多了。

Ever since the road was built, transportation here has become much more convenient.

Common Confusions with 修

修vs秀
xiù

Similar in sound but has a different meaning and usage.

修 is a general term for repair, while 修理 specifically refers to fixing something.

1

我修了一辆车。 vs 我修理了一辆车。

修 is a general term for repair, while 修理 specifically refers to fixing something.

💡修 is broader, like 'to repair', while 修理 is like 'to fix'.
Exercise 1 of 1

Spot the Difference

Which character means "to repair"?

or

Usage Notes for 修

Mixing up 修 with other verbsCommon Error

Learners often confuse 修 with similar verbs like 建, which means 'to build'. It's important to understand the specific context in which each verb is used.

1

我修了这张桌子。

I repaired this table.

2

我建了这座房子。

I built this house.

Exercise 1 of 1

Fill in the Blank

我____了这张桌子。

I repaired this table.

Example Sentences for 修 (10)

Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
许多妇女懂得怎样修自己的车。

xǔ duō fù nǚ dǒng dé zěn yàng xiū zì jǐ de chē。

Many women know how to carry out repairs on their cars.
2
把你的眉毛修剪成越往外眼角越细的月牙形。

bǎ nǐ de méi máo xiū jiǎn chéng yuè wǎng wài yǎn jiǎo yuè xì de yuè yá xíng。

Taper the shape of your eyebrows towards the outer corners.
3
伦敦市芭蕾舞团从波修瓦芭蕾舞团聘来了两名男舞蹈演员。

lún dūn shì bā lěi wǔ tuán cóng bō xiū wǎ bā lěi wǔ tuán pìn lái le liǎng míng nán wǔ dǎo yǎn yuán。

The London City Ballet has engaged two male dancers from the Bolshoi.
4
这使我更加坚定了不做修女的决心。

zhè shǐ wǒ gēng jiā jiān dìng le bù zuò xiū nǚ de jué xīn。

It has confirmed me in my decision not to become a nun.
5
电梯修理工可以转动这根杠杆直接操作机器。

diàn tī xiū lǐ gōng kě yǐ zhuǎn dòng zhè gēn gàng gān zhí jiē cāo zuò jī qì。

An elevator mechanic can work the machinery directly by turning this lever.
6
这篇修正主义的论文更加偏离了马克思主义的主张。

zhè piān xiū zhèng zhǔ yì de lùn wén gēng jiā piān lí le mǎ kè sī zhǔ yì de zhǔ zhāng。

This revisionist thesis departs even further from Marxist assertions.
7
这位航海家的名誉受到了历史修正主义者的攻击。

zhè wèi háng hǎi jiā de míng yù shòu dào le lì shǐ xiū zhèng zhǔ yì zhě de gōng jī。

The reputation of the navigator is under assault from historical revisionists.
8
我相信这样一条箴言：“不破不修”。

wǒ xiāng xìn zhè yàng yī tiáo zhēn yán：“ ：“ bù pò bù”。

I believe in the maxim "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".
9
他们曾保证水管一年前彻底检修过。

tā mén zēng bǎo zhèng shuǐ guǎn yī nián qián chè dǐ jiǎn xiū guò。

They had ensured the plumbing was overhauled a year ago.
10
一项宪法修正案使得任何总统的任职不得超过两届。

yī xiàng xiàn fǎ xiū zhèng àn shǐ dé rèn hé zǒng tǒng de rèn zhí bù dé chāo guò liǎng jiè。

A constitutional amendment precludes any president from serving more than two terms.

Cultural Notes for 修

💡Did you know?

The character 修 (Xiū) historically relates to maintenance and repair, reflecting the importance of taking care of one's belongings in Chinese culture. This is also seen in traditional practices such as repairing clothes instead of discarding them.

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the concept of 修 extends beyond physical repair to include personal development and self-cultivation, reflecting a societal value placed on continuous improvement and learning.

Word Family of 修

Compounds2
蓚
鎀
Words Containing This Character20
修xiūto decorate
修改xiūgǎito amend
装修zhuāngxiūto decorate裝修
维修wéixiūmaintenance (of equipment)維修
修复xiūfùto restore修復
修理xiūlǐto repair
修好to repair (sth broken)
修女nun or sister (of the Roman Catholic or Greek Orthodox churches)
修建xiūjiànto build
修正xiūzhèngto revise
修订xiūdìngto revise修訂
修身body-hugging
修补xiūbǔto mend修補
修道院monastery
修养xiūyǎngtraining修養
修炼to practice asceticism修煉
修正案amendment
修正主义revisionism修正主義
修车xiūchēto repair a bike (car etc)修車
修饰to decorate修飾
Exercise 1 of 4

Compound Meaning

What does 修 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 修

While 修 (xiū) generally means 'to repair' or 'to build', 修理 (xiūlǐ) specifically refers to the act of repairing something. 修 can also imply improvement or cultivation in a broader sense, whereas 修理 focuses more on fixing items or machinery.