复原

• Pinyin: fù yuán
• Hanzi breakdown: 复 = 彳 + 日 + 夂 (restore, return); 原 = 厂 + 泉 (original, source, plain)

Meaning

To restore to the original state; to recover; to rehabilitate. Refers to returning something to how it was before damage, illness, or alteration.

Used in medicine (身体复原 physical recovery), archaeology and restoration (文物复原 restoration of cultural relics), and ecology (生态复原 ecological restoration). 完全复原 (full recovery) and 逐步复原 (gradual restoration) are common collocations. More thorough than 恢复 in implying a return to the exact original state.

Examples

1. 经过六个月的系统康复训练，他受伤的膝关节已基本复原，可以正常行走。 After six months of systematic rehabilitation, his injured knee has largely recovered, and he can walk normally.
2. 文物修复专家耗时三年，将这批出土的青铜器件逐一清洗并精心复原。 A team of cultural relics conservators spent three years carefully cleaning and restoring these unearthed bronze artifacts piece by piece.
3. 灾区的基础设施在政府专项拨款的支持下正在有序复原，居民生活逐步恢复正常。 With support from special government funding, the disaster area’s infrastructure is being restored in an orderly way, and residents’ lives are gradually returning to normal.

Usage Guide

Context: medical, archaeology, ecology, disaster relief

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 这项技术能够帮助科学家将受损的古代文献扫描复原，重现其历史风貌。(This technology can help scientists scan and restore damaged ancient documents, recreating their historical appearance.)
• 医疗团队制定了详细的术后复原方案，包括营养指导和物理治疗计划。(The medical team formulated a detailed post-operative recovery plan encompassing nutritional guidance and a physiotherapy programme.)

Don't Say

• 复原你的心情 — use 调整 or 重新振作 for recovering one's mood; 复原 implies an objective, measurable return to a prior physical or structural state

Origin & History

复 (return/restore) + 原 (original/source)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal