修理

• Pinyin: xiū lǐ
• Hanzi breakdown: 修 = 亻(person radical) + 攸 (phonetic, also suggests flowing motion); 理 = 王 (jade) + 里 (inside, phonetic)

Meaning

To repair; to fix; to restore something to working condition.

Used for repairing broken objects such as appliances, vehicles, or infrastructure. More hands-on than 修改 (to revise/edit). Often appears with specific objects: 修理自行车 (fix a bicycle), 修理电器 (repair appliances). Can also be used colloquially to mean giving someone a good scolding or beating (informal).

Examples

1. 我的自行车链条断了，我要去附近的修理店修一修。 The chain on my bicycle broke and I need to go to a nearby repair shop to get it fixed.
2. 他很擅长修理家用电器，家里坏了什么东西都找他帮忙。 He is very good at repairing household appliances — whenever something breaks at home, everyone turns to him for help.
3. 这台洗衣机修理之后运转正常了，再也不漏水了。 After the washing machine was repaired it ran normally again — no more leaks.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, home, services

Tone: practical

Do Say

• 我的电脑出故障了，需要找人修理一下。(My computer has broken down and needs someone to repair it.)
• 这条路被修理过，现在平整多了。(This road has been repaired and it's much smoother now.)

Don't Say

• 用修理代替修改，如老师帮我修理了作文。(Don't use 修理 for editing text or revising written work — use 修改 instead, as in 老师帮我修改了作文.)

Origin & History

Compound of 修 (repair/cultivate) and 理 (manage/put in order), together meaning to bring something back to its proper order.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal