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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
By ear
Play it, then pick what 修 means.
About 修
修Simplified
9Strokes
亻Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#1496Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L4ElementaryTOCFLL3HSKKL2CEFRA2
Podcast: 修
Podcast: 修
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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.
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.
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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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 修 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
修 = 彡 + 攸. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 修
IDS Structure⿱攸彡
修Full character
=
攸you1
top
彡shan1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 修?
How to say to repair in Chinese
“to repair” in Chinese is修xiū
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.
When to use 修
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).
修 or something close to it
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.
What learners get wrong
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.
Write 修
修
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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.
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
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
Which one
Which one 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
Get it right
Type the missing word. Pinyin works; then pick the character.
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。
xǔduō fùnǚ dǒngde zěnyàng xiū zìjǐ 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 méimao xiū jiǎn chéng yuè wǎng wài yǎn jiǎo yuè xì de yuè yá xíng。
Taper the shape of your eyebrows towards the outer corners.
A constitutional amendment precludes any president from serving more than two terms.
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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.
Word Family of 修
Compounds2
蓚tiáo
鎀xiū
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xiūhǎoto repair (sth broken)
修女xiūnǚnun 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xiūshēnbody-hugging
修补xiūbǔto mend修補
修道院xiūdàoyuànmonastery
修养xiūyǎngtraining修養
修炼xiūliànto practice asceticism修煉
修正案xiūzhèng’ànamendment
修正主义xiūzhèngzhǔyìrevisionism修正主義
修车xiūchēto repair a bike (car etc)修車
修饰xiūshìto decorate修飾
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 修
What does 修改 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.
Yes, 修 (xiū) can also be a surname in Chinese. It is less common than some other surnames, but it is recognized as part of the family name system in China. The context will usually clarify whether it refers to the verb or the surname.
修 (xiū) has several meanings in Chinese, primarily relating to actions of improvement or maintenance. It can mean 'to repair' or 'to build', as well as 'to cultivate' or 'to embellish'. In some contexts, it may also refer to the act of writing.
修 (xiū) can be used in various contexts, such as '修理' (xiūlǐ) meaning 'to repair'. For example, you can say '我需要修我的自行车' (Wǒ xūyào xiū wǒ de zìxíngchē), which means 'I need to repair my bicycle.' It can also be used in phrases like '修养' (xiūyǎng), which means 'to cultivate oneself.'
修 is a broader term that can mean to repair, decorate, or cultivate, while 修理 specifically means to repair.
Yes, 修 can be used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in academic and professional settings.
Make sure to use the first tone, pronounced as 'xiū,' with a high, steady pitch.
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