修改

• Pinyin: xiū gǎi
• Hanzi breakdown: 修 = 亻 (person) + 攸 (flowing, phonetic); 改 = 己 (self) + 攵 (to strike), meaning to correct

Meaning

To revise; to modify; to amend. To make changes to improve or correct something.

Used for making corrections or improvements to documents, plans, designs, laws, and other works. Common objects: 修改文章 (revise an article), 修改计划 (modify a plan), 修改意见 (suggested revisions). More deliberate than 改 (to change) — 修改 implies thoughtful, targeted improvement.

Examples

1. 老师让我把作文修改一下。 The teacher asked me to revise my essay.
2. 这个方案还需要再修改。 This plan still needs further revision.
3. 他花了很长时间修改自己的论文。 He spent a long time revising his thesis.

Usage Guide

Context: work, education, writing

Tone: professional

Do Say

• 请根据意见修改报告。(Please revise the report based on the feedback.)
• 这篇文章还需要修改。(This article still needs revision.)

Don't Say

• 我想修改我的发型。(Don't use 修改 for hairstyle changes — use 换 or 改变. 修改 is for written or planned work, not personal appearance.)

Origin & History

修 means 'to repair' or 'to refine' and 改 means 'to change' or 'to correct'. Together they describe the process of refining through targeted changes.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal