补

• Pinyin: bǔ
• Hanzi breakdown: 补 = 衤(clothing) + 卜 (divination, phonetic), originally meant to patch clothing

Meaning

To mend; to repair; to make up for; to supplement. Refers to fixing something or filling a gap.

A versatile verb with several related meanings: to patch or mend clothing, to make up a missed class or exam (补课, 补考), to supplement nutrition (补身体), or to fill a vacancy. Very common in everyday life.

Examples

1. 妈妈帮我把破了的衣服补好了。 Mum helped me mend the torn clothes.
2. 我上周生病了，这周要去补课。 I was ill last week, so I need to make up classes this week.
3. 冬天多吃牛肉可以补身体。 Eating more beef in winter can nourish the body.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, school, health

Tone: practical

Do Say

• 我需要补一下上次缺的课。(I need to make up the class I missed last time.)
• 这条裤子破了，能补一下吗？(These trousers have a hole, can they be mended?)

Don't Say

• 补我的心情 (Don't use 补 for fixing emotions or moods — use 改善 or 调整 instead. 补 is for physical repair or making up for something missed)

Origin & History

From 衤(clothing radical) + 卜 (divination, phonetic component), originally meaning to patch clothing.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal