xiūgǎi: 修改 - To Revise, Modify, Amend

• Keywords: xiugai, xiūgǎi, 修改, revise Chinese, modify Chinese, amend Chinese, edit Chinese document, how to say revise in Chinese, how to say modify in Chinese, change a plan in Chinese, correct a document.
• Summary: Learn how to use the essential Chinese verb 修改 (xiūgǎi), which means to revise, modify, or amend. This page will guide you through its core meaning, from editing documents and code to altering plans and contracts. Discover the difference between 修改 (xiūgǎi) and other words for “change” like 改变 (gǎibiàn), and see practical examples for using it in professional, academic, and everyday situations in China.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): xiūgǎi
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To revise, modify, or amend something, typically to improve or correct it.
• In a Nutshell: Think of 修改 (xiūgǎi) as the act of making targeted changes to something that already exists. It's not a complete transformation, but a refinement. Whether you're tweaking an essay, updating a password, altering a design, or adjusting a plan, 修改 is the word you need. It implies a thoughtful process of improvement and correction.

• 修 (xiū): This character means “to repair,” “to fix,” or “to build.” You see it in words like 修理 (xiūlǐ - to repair a machine). It brings the sense of improving or fixing something.
• 改 (gǎi): This character means “to change” or “to correct.” It's found in words like 改变 (gǎibiàn - to change) and 改正 (gǎizhèng - to correct a mistake). It brings the sense of making a change.
• When combined, 修 (to improve) + 改 (to change) = 修改 (to revise/modify). The characters perfectly describe the action: making changes with the specific intention of improving or correcting something.

While 修改 (xiūgǎi) isn't a deeply philosophical term, its frequent use highlights a cultural emphasis on precision, planning, and continuous improvement, particularly in professional and academic environments. In Chinese business and education, a draft is almost always expected to be a starting point for discussion and 修改. The process of sending a document back and forth for 修改 is a standard collaborative workflow. Compared to the English word “change,” 修改 is more specific and deliberate. You might “change” your mind on a whim, but you 修改 a report after careful consideration. It carries a sense of constructive action. This contrasts with a simple, more neutral “change” (like 变 biàn) or a fundamental transformation (改变 gǎibiàn). The expectation is that what has been 修改-ed is now better, more accurate, or more suitable for its purpose.

修改 is a high-frequency word used across many domains, generally in neutral to formal contexts.

This is the most common context. You 修改 reports (报告), plans (计划), presentations (PPT), resumes (简历), and academic papers (论文). It's the standard verb for any kind of document editing.

In the tech world, you 修改 code (代码 dàimǎ), a program's settings (设置 shèzhì), a configuration file (配置文件 pèizhì wénjiàn), or your password (密码 mìmǎ).

On a more formal level, governments 修改 laws (法律 fǎlǜ) and constitutions (宪法 xiànfǎ). Companies and individuals 修改 contracts (合同 hétong).

• Example 1:
  • 老师让我修改我的论文。
  • Pinyin: Lǎoshī ràng wǒ xiūgǎi wǒ de lùnwén.
  • English: The teacher told me to revise my thesis.
  • Analysis: A classic example from an academic context. This is one of the most common ways learners will encounter this word.
• Example 2:
  • 我们需要修改一下会议的时间。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen xūyào xiūgǎi yīxià huìyì de shíjiān.
  • English: We need to modify the time of the meeting.
  • Analysis: Here, 修改 is used to alter a plan. The “一下 (yīxià)” softens the tone, making it sound like a small adjustment.
• Example 3:
  • 你能帮我修改一下这份合同吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ néng bāng wǒ xiūgǎi yīxià zhè fèn hétong ma?
  • English: Can you help me amend this contract?
  • Analysis: This demonstrates a formal, professional use of the word in a business context.
• Example 4:
  • 为了安全，你应该定期修改你的密码。
  • Pinyin: Wèile ānquán, nǐ yīnggāi dìngqī xiūgǎi nǐ de mìmǎ.
  • English: For security, you should modify your password regularly.
  • Analysis: A very practical example from the digital world, showing its use with “password” (密码).
• Example 5:
  • 这个设计方案很好，但还有一些细节需要修改。
  • Pinyin: Zhège shèjì fāng'àn hěn hǎo, dàn háiyǒu yīxiē xìjié xūyào xiūgǎi.
  • English: This design plan is very good, but there are still some details that need to be revised.
  • Analysis: This shows how 修改 is used to talk about refinement and perfecting something that is already good.
• Example 6:
  • 裁缝正在帮我修改裤子。
  • Pinyin: Cáiféng zhèngzài bāng wǒ xiūgǎi kùzi.
  • English: The tailor is helping me alter my pants.
  • Analysis: This shows that 修改 can also apply to physical objects, like clothing, when the meaning is “to alter.”
• Example 7:
  • 程序员修改了代码中的一个错误。
  • Pinyin: Chéngxùyuán xiūgǎi le dàimǎ zhōng de yīgè cuòwù.
  • English: The programmer modified an error in the code.
  • Analysis: A specific example from the field of technology, equivalent to “fixing a bug” or “patching code.”
• Example 8:
  • 根据客户的反馈，我们对产品进行了修改。
  • Pinyin: Gēnjù kèhù de fǎnkuì, wǒmen duì chǎnpǐn jìnxíngle xiūgǎi.
  • English: Based on customer feedback, we made modifications to the product.
  • Analysis: In this sentence, 修改 functions as a noun (“modifications”). The structure “对…进行修改” (duì…jìnxíng xiūgǎi) is a slightly more formal way to say “to modify…”.
• Example 9:
  • 政府宣布将修改税法。
  • Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ xuānbù jiāng xiūgǎi shuìfǎ.
  • English: The government announced it will amend the tax law.
  • Analysis: A highly formal usage, common in news and official announcements.
• Example 10:
  • 我觉得我的生活方式需要一些修改。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ juédé wǒ de shēnghuó fāngshì xūyào yīxiē xiūgǎi.
  • English: I feel like my lifestyle needs some changes (modifications).
  • Analysis: Here, 修改 is used in a more abstract sense. It implies making deliberate, corrective changes to one's habits, not just a random change.

The most common mistake for learners is confusing 修改 (xiūgǎi) with other words that also mean “change.”

• `修改 (xiūgǎi)` vs. `改变 (gǎibiàn)`
  • 修改 (xiūgǎi): To modify, revise. You make changes to an existing object or plan to improve it. The core thing remains the same.
    • Correct: 我要修改这个句子。(Wǒ yào xiūgǎi zhège jùzi.) - I want to revise this sentence.
    • Incorrect: 我要改变这个句子。(This sounds strange, as if you're transforming the sentence into something completely different, like a picture).
  • 改变 (gǎibiàn): To change, to alter. Refers to a more fundamental or abstract transformation.
    • Correct: 科技改变了我们的生活。(Kējì gǎibiàn le wǒmen de shēnghuó.) - Technology changed our lives.
    • Incorrect: 科技修改了我们的生活。(This is wrong. Technology didn't “edit” our lives).
• `修改 (xiūgǎi)` vs. `换 (huàn)`
  • 换 (huàn): To exchange, to replace. You swap one thing for another.
    • Correct: 我想换工作。(Wǒ xiǎng huàn gōngzuò.) - I want to change jobs.
    • Incorrect: 我想修改工作。(This makes no sense. You can't “revise” your job).
    • You 换 a dead battery, you don't 修改 it.
• `修改 (xiūgǎi)` vs. `编辑 (biānjí)`
  • 编辑 (biānjí): To edit. This is more specific, referring almost exclusively to the act of preparing text, film, or other media for publication or presentation. It's the job of an “editor” (also 编辑).
  • 修改 (xiūgǎi): Is broader. You can 修改 a plan, a law, or a piece of clothing, where 编辑 would not be appropriate. All editing (编辑) is a form of modification (修改), but not all modification is editing.

• 改 (gǎi) - The core character for “change” or “correct.” It's the foundation of many related words.
• 改变 (gǎibiàn) - A synonym for a more fundamental “change” or “transformation.”
• 改正 (gǎizhèng) - To correct a mistake or error. More focused on fixing something wrong than just improving it.
• 修理 (xiūlǐ) - To repair, to fix. Used for physical objects like cars, computers, and appliances. Shares the 修 character.
• 编辑 (biānjí) - To edit. A more specific action, usually related to text or media.
• 调整 (tiáozhěng) - To adjust, to tune. Implies making smaller, finer changes to bring something into balance or alignment (e.g., adjusting the volume, adjusting a schedule).
• 完善 (wánshàn) - To perfect, to make complete. This is often the goal when you 修改 something.
• 计划 (jìhuà) - Plan. A very common object that gets modified (修改).
• 合同 (hétong) - Contract. A formal document that is often amended (修改).