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| 修补 [2025/08/04 17:11] – created xiaoer | 修补 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1 |
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| ====== xiūbǔ: 修补 - To Mend, Patch, Repair ====== | |
| ===== Quick Summary ===== | |
| * **Keywords:** xiūbǔ, 修补, mend in Chinese, repair in Chinese, patch up, fix a hole, Chinese for mending clothes, repair relationships, mend a road, patch a software bug, fix a crack | |
| * **Summary:** Learn the versatile Chinese verb **修补 (xiūbǔ)**, which means "to mend," "to patch," or "to repair." This comprehensive guide explores how to use **xiūbǔ** for both literal tasks, like mending clothes and fixing potholes, and figurative ones, such as patching up a relationship or fixing a software bug. Understand its cultural roots in frugality and its practical application in modern Chinese, with clear examples to help you master its usage. | |
| ===== Core Meaning ===== | |
| * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** xiūbǔ | |
| * **Part of Speech:** Verb | |
| * **HSK Level:** HSK 5 | |
| * **Concise Definition:** To mend or patch something that is broken, worn, torn, or has a hole. | |
| * **In a Nutshell:** **修补 (xiūbǔ)** is your go-to word when you're fixing something by filling in a gap, a crack, or a hole. Think of putting a patch on torn jeans, filling a pothole in the road, or even "patching up" a flawed plan. It’s about making something whole again by adding material, effort, or information to fix an imperfection. | |
| ===== Character Breakdown ===== | |
| * **修 (xiū):** This character's core meaning is "to repair," "to build," or "to cultivate." You can think of it as combining a person (亻) with a tool (攸) to perform a constructive or corrective action. It's the general action of fixing. | |
| * **补 (bǔ):** This character means "to patch," "to supplement," or "to make up for." The clothing radical (衤) on the left clearly hints at its origin: mending or patching clothes. | |
| * **How they combine:** The general action of "repairing" (修) is combined with the specific action of "patching" or "supplementing" (补). Together, **修补 (xiūbǔ)** creates a vivid word for mending things, especially by filling in what's missing. | |
| ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== | |
| The word **修补 (xiūbǔ)** taps into the traditional Chinese value of **节俭 (jiéjiǎn)**, or frugality. For generations, mending and reusing items, especially clothing, was not just a necessity but a virtue. A person who could **修补** their own belongings was seen as resourceful and responsible. | |
| This contrasts with the "fast fashion" or disposable culture that has become more prevalent in some Western societies, where it's often easier and cheaper to replace a torn shirt than to mend it. While this is also changing in China, the concept of **修补** as a positive, resourceful act remains deeply ingrained. | |
| Metaphorically, the idea of **修补关系 (xiūbǔ guānxì)**, or "mending a relationship," is very significant. It aligns with the cultural emphasis on maintaining social harmony. Unlike the casual American phrase "patch things up," which can sometimes imply a temporary fix, **修补关系** suggests a more earnest and deliberate effort to restore a relationship to its original, harmonious state, filling the "hole" created by a conflict. | |
| ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== | |
| **修补** is a common and practical word used in various contexts, from daily life to technology. | |
| * **Household & Daily Life:** This is the most common usage. It's used for mending clothes, patching up walls, fixing cracks in pottery, or repairing a leaky roof. It's a very hands-on, tangible word. | |
| * **Public Works:** You will often hear or see **修补** used in the context of infrastructure, such as **修补道路 (xiūbǔ dàolù)** (patching roads) or **修补桥梁 (xiūbǔ qiáoliáng)** (repairing bridges). | |
| * **Technology & Business (Figurative):** In the digital age, **修补** is the standard term for patching software. A programmer will **修补漏洞 (xiūbǔ lòudòng)**, which means "to patch vulnerabilities/bugs." It can also be used for fixing a flawed plan or argument. | |
| * **Relationships (Figurative):** As mentioned, it's used to describe the act of mending a friendship, family tie, or romantic relationship after a disagreement. | |
| The word is generally neutral in connotation and can be used in both formal and informal settings. | |
| ===== Example Sentences ===== | |
| * **Example 1:** | |
| * 妈妈正在用针线**修补**我破了的牛仔裤。 | |
| * Pīnyīn: Māma zhèngzài yòng zhēnxiàn **xiūbǔ** wǒ pòle de niúzǎikù. | |
| * English: Mom is using a needle and thread to mend my torn jeans. | |
| * Analysis: A classic, literal use of **修补** for mending clothing. | |
| * **Example 2:** | |
| * 工人们正在**修补**路面上的坑洼。 | |
| * Pīnyīn: Gōngrénmen zhèngzài **xiūbǔ** lùmiàn shàng de kēngwā. | |
| * English: The workers are patching the potholes on the road surface. | |
| * Analysis: This shows **修补** used for public infrastructure repair. | |
| * **Example 3:** | |
| * 他们吵架后，他一直在想办法**修补**两人的关系。 | |
| * Pīnyīn: Tāmen chǎojià hòu, tā yīzhí zài xiǎng bànfǎ **xiūbǔ** liǎng rén de guānxì. | |
| * English: After they argued, he has been trying to find a way to mend their relationship. | |
| * Analysis: A very common figurative use of **修补** for interpersonal relationships. | |
| * **Example 4:** | |
| * 这个旧花瓶可以被**修补**，但裂缝还是会很明显。 | |
| * Pīnyīn: Zhège jiù huāpíng kěyǐ bèi **xiūbǔ**, dàn lièfèng háishì huì hěn míngxiǎn. | |
| * English: This old vase can be repaired, but the crack will still be very visible. | |
| * Analysis: Here, **修补** implies a functional fix, but not necessarily a perfect restoration. | |
| * **Example 5:** | |
| * 程序员发布了一个更新来**修补**软件的安全漏洞。 | |
| * Pīnyīn: Chéngxùyuán fābùle yīgè gēngxīn lái **xiūbǔ** ruǎnjiàn de ānquán lòudòng. | |
| * English: The programmer released an update to patch the software's security vulnerability. | |
| * Analysis: This is the standard term for patching software bugs in the tech industry. | |
| * **Example 6:** | |
| * 我们的屋顶漏水了，必须马上找人来**修补**。 | |
| * Pīnyīn: Wǒmen de wūdǐng lòushuǐ le, bìxū mǎshàng zhǎo rén lái **xiūbǔ**. | |
| * English: Our roof is leaking, we must find someone to repair it immediately. | |
| * Analysis: A common household problem where **修补** is the perfect verb. | |
| * **Example 7:** | |
| * 渔夫在出海前，会仔细**修补**他的渔网。 | |
| * Pīnyīn: Yúfū zài chūhǎi qián, huì zǐxì **xiūbǔ** tā de yúwǎng. | |
| * English: Before going out to sea, a fisherman will carefully mend his fishing nets. | |
| * Analysis: Shows the word's connection to traditional crafts and resourcefulness. | |
| * **Example 8:** | |
| * 历史学家们的工作之一就是**修补**历史记录中的空白。 | |
| * Pīnyīn: Lìshǐ xuéjiāmen de gōngzuò zhī yī jiùshì **xiūbǔ** lìshǐ jìlù zhōng de kòngbái. | |
| * English: One of the jobs of historians is to fill in the gaps in the historical record. | |
| * Analysis: A highly figurative and intellectual use of **修补**, meaning to "fill in" or "remedy" missing information. | |
| * **Example 9:** | |
| * 墙上的小裂缝，我自己用腻子**修补**了一下。 | |
| * Pīnyīn: Qiáng shàng de xiǎo lièfèng, wǒ zìjǐ yòng nìzǐ **xiūbǔ** le yīxià. | |
| * English: I patched the small crack on the wall myself using putty. | |
| * Analysis: A great example of a simple, do-it-yourself (DIY) repair. | |
| * **Example 10:** | |
| * 他的论点有几个缺陷，需要一些额外的数据来**修补**。 | |
| * Pīnyīn: Tā de lùndiǎn yǒu jǐ ge quēxiàn, xūyào yīxiē éwài de shùjù lái **xiūbǔ**. | |
| * English: His argument has several flaws and needs some extra data to patch it up. | |
| * Analysis: A figurative use in an academic or professional context, showing how a plan or idea can be "mended." | |
| ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== | |
| The most common mistake for learners is confusing **修补 (xiūbǔ)** with **修理 (xiūlǐ)**. | |
| * **修补 (xiūbǔ): To Patch/Mend.** Use this for holes, cracks, tears, and gaps. It's about filling something in. | |
| * Correct: **修补**衣服 (mend clothes), **修补**墙壁 (patch a wall), **修补**关系 (mend a relationship). | |
| * **修理 (xiūlǐ): To Repair/Fix.** Use this for mechanical or electronic devices that have stopped working. It's about fixing a malfunction. | |
| * Correct: **修理**电脑 (fix a computer), **修理**汽车 (repair a car), **修理**手表 (fix a watch). | |
| * **Incorrect:** 我要**修补**我的手机。(Wǒ yào xiūbǔ wǒ de shǒujī.) -> This would strangely imply your phone has a physical hole you want to fill. | |
| * **Correct:** 我要**修理**我的手机。(Wǒ yào xiūlǐ wǒ de shǒujī.) | |
| Another related term is **修复 (xiūfù)**, which means "to restore." **修复** is more formal and implies returning something to its original, perfect condition, often used for art, historical artifacts, or data recovery. You **修补** a crack in a cup, but you would **修复** a Ming dynasty vase. | |
| ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== | |
| * [[修理]] (xiūlǐ) - The general term for "to repair," used for machines and electronics. The most important contrast to **修补**. | |
| * [[修复]] (xiūfù) - To restore, often to a perfect or original state. More formal and thorough than **修补**. | |
| * [[维修]] (wéixiū) - To maintain and repair. A formal term often used in technical or official contexts, like for building or equipment maintenance contracts. | |
| * [[缝补]] (féngbǔ) - To mend by sewing. A more specific verb for what you do to clothes with a needle and thread. | |
| * [[弥补]] (míbǔ) - To make up for, to remedy (a loss, a deficit, a regret). A more abstract synonym, e.g., to make up for a mistake. | |
| * [[补]] (bǔ) - The root character for "to patch" or "to supplement." It appears in many words like [[补课]] (bǔkè) - to make up a missed class. | |
| * [[漏洞]] (lòudòng) - A leak, hole, or vulnerability. This is often the "thing" that needs to be **修补**-ed, both literally (a leak) and figuratively (a software bug). | |
| * [[裂缝]] (lièfèng) - A crack or fissure. Another common object that you would **修补**. | |