Meanings of 補
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About 補
Podcast: 補
Podcast: 補
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AI Study Notes for 補
修 (xiū) - use 補 (bǔ) when implying restoration or making up for a deficiency, while 修 (xiū) focuses more on general fixing or maintenance.
Be cautious with the tone; 'bǔ' is pronounced with a falling tone, which can change the meaning if mispronounced. This character is often used in more informal contexts, but it can also be found in formal writing when discussing repairs or restorations. Common collocations include 補衣服 (bǔ yīfu - to mend clothes) and 補救 (bǔjiù - to remedy).
Although 補 is not included in the HSK vocabulary list, it relates to other verbs of action like 修 (xiū - to repair) and 整 (zhěng - to fix up). Students should focus on its application in practical scenarios of repair and restoration to enhance their everyday vocabulary.
Learners often confuse 補 with 修 (xiū), thinking they are interchangeable. For example, saying '我需要修衣服' (wǒ xūyào xiū yīfu) is correct but using 補 in this context is also appropriate. Just ensure you use the right collocation.
Pronunciation of 補
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Etymology of 補
Phonosemantic compound. 衤 represents the meaning and 卜 represents the sound. Simplified form of 補.
cloth
Jason Etymology Detective
Case file: 補
Phonosemantic compound. 衤 represents the meaning and 卜 represents the sound. Simplified form of 補.
- 1The meaning half衤 carries the sense.
- 2The sound half甫 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
- 3The giveawaycloth
- 4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 補? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.Character Formation Type
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Decomposition of 補
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How to say to fix, to mend, to patch, to restore in Chinese
“to fix, to mend, to patch, to restore” in Chinese is補
The character 補 (bǔ) means 'to fix,' 'to mend,' 'to patch,' or 'to restore.' It is commonly used in contexts where something is being repaired or made whole again, such as clothing, relationships, or even financial situations. The nuance often implies adding something to make up for a deficiency.
When to use 補
Be cautious with the tone; 'bǔ' is pronounced with a falling tone, which can change the meaning if mispronounced. This character is often used in more informal contexts, but it can also be found in formal writing when discussing repairs or restorations. Common collocations include 補衣服 (bǔ yīfu - to mend clothes) and 補救 (bǔjiù - to remedy).
補 or something close to it
修 (xiū) - use 補 (bǔ) when implying restoration or making up for a deficiency, while 修 (xiū) focuses more on general fixing or maintenance.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 補 with 修 (xiū), thinking they are interchangeable. For example, saying '我需要修衣服' (wǒ xūyào xiū yīfu) is correct but using 補 in this context is also appropriate. Just ensure you use the right collocation.
Write 補
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Practice writing 補 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
Word Family of 補
Compound Meaning
What does 补 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 補
You can say 補衣服 (bǔ yīfu) which means 'to mend clothes.'
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