补救

• Pinyin: bǔ jiù
• Hanzi breakdown: 补 = to mend; 救 = 求 (to seek) + 攵 (action), meaning to rescue

Meaning

To remedy; to make up for; to salvage. Taking action to correct or fix a mistake or problem.

Used when attempting to fix a situation that has gone wrong. Implies that damage has already occurred and one is trying to minimize or reverse it. Common in both professional and personal contexts.

Examples

1. 发现错误后，他立即采取措施进行补救。 After discovering the error, he immediately took measures to remedy it.
2. 亡羊补牢，为时未晚，还有补救的机会。 It's never too late to mend — there's still a chance to fix this.
3. 这次失误造成的损失已经很难补救了。 The losses caused by this mistake are already difficult to remedy.

Usage Guide

Context: problem-solving, crisis, mistakes

Tone: urgent

Do Say

• 还有什么补救的办法吗？(Is there any way to remedy this?)
• 我们要尽快想办法补救。(We need to find a way to fix this as soon as possible.)

Don't Say

• 我想补救一下这顿饭的味道。(For cooking adjustments, use 改进 or 调整 — 补救 implies fixing a mistake or crisis)

Origin & History

补 (to mend, supplement) + 救 (to save, rescue). To mend and save a situation.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal