修

• Pinyin: xiū
• Hanzi breakdown: 修 = 亻 (person) + 攸 (flowing, phonetic), meaning to repair or cultivate

Meaning

To repair; to fix; to build; to trim. A versatile verb for mending, constructing, or refining things.

Used in multiple contexts: repair (修车 fix a car, 修电脑 fix a computer), construction (修路 build a road, 修桥 build a bridge), grooming (修指甲 trim nails, 修眉毛 shape eyebrows), and self-improvement (修养 cultivation, 修行 spiritual practice). A very practical everyday verb.

Examples

1. 我的手机坏了，需要找人修一下。 My phone is broken and I need to find someone to fix it.
2. 这条路正在修，不能走。 This road is being repaired and cannot be used.
3. 他会修各种家用电器。 He can repair all kinds of household appliances.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, repair, construction

Tone: practical

Do Say

• 你知道哪里可以修鞋吗？(Do you know where I can get shoes repaired?)
• 门前的路终于修好了。(The road in front of the door is finally repaired.)

Don't Say

• 我要修我的衣服。(For clothing alterations, use 改 — say 改衣服. 修 is not typically used for clothing adjustments.)

Origin & History

修 originally depicted a person decorating or refining something. The character combines 亻 (person) with 攸 (a flowing element), suggesting the act of smoothing or perfecting.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal