复习

• Pinyin: fù xí
• Hanzi breakdown: 复 (fù) — again, to repeat; 习 (xí) — to practise, to study

Meaning

To review; to revise. Studying material again to reinforce what has been learned.

A core academic verb used constantly by students and teachers. In Chinese education culture, regular review is heavily emphasised. Often used before exams or as homework. Not to be confused with 预习 (preview or prepare in advance).

Examples

1. 考试前我要好好复习。 I need to review well before the exam.
2. 今天晚上我复习了三个小时的中文。 Tonight I reviewed Chinese for three hours.
3. 老师让我们回家复习第五课。 The teacher told us to go home and review Lesson 5.

Usage Guide

Context: school, study, exams

Tone: academic

Do Say

• 你复习了吗？明天有考试。(Have you reviewed? There's an exam tomorrow.)
• 我每天都复习新学的生词。(I review newly learned vocabulary every day.)

Don't Say

• 不要混淆'复习'和'预习' — 复习 is reviewing what you already learned, 预习 is preparing new material in advance (Don't say 复习明天的新课 when you mean 预习).

Origin & History

Compound of 复 (again, to repeat) and 习 (to practise, to study). Together they mean 'to study again' — review.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal