xiū: 修 - To Repair, Cultivate, Build

• Keywords: xiu, 修, Chinese for repair, Chinese for cultivate, what does xiu mean, fix in Chinese, build in Chinese, 修身, 修理, 修建, 修行, 修课, self-cultivation in Chinese, Confucianism, Daoism
• Summary: The Chinese character 修 (xiū) is a remarkably versatile verb that embodies the concept of improvement, whether fixing a broken phone, building a new road, taking a university course, or cultivating one's moral character. From the physical act of repair to the profound philosophical journey of self-cultivation in Confucianism and Daoism, understanding 修 (xiū) unlocks a core aspect of Chinese culture that values continuous betterment in both the material and spiritual worlds.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): xiū
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 4
• Concise Definition: To repair, fix, build, study, or cultivate.
• In a Nutshell: Imagine a single word that can describe fixing your car, taking a history class, and striving to be a better person. That's `修`. At its heart, `修` is about the act of making something better, more complete, or more refined. It can be a simple, physical task or a lifelong, abstract journey. It's a “doing” word that always implies a positive transformation.

• 修 (xiū): This character is a phono-semantic compound, meaning it has a part for meaning and a part for sound.
  • 亻(rén): The left-side radical is the “person” radical. This immediately tells you the action is performed by a person.
  • 攸 (yōu): The right side provides the sound. Historically, `攸` depicted a person with a walking stick, suggesting action, regulation, or putting things in order.
• When you combine “person” (亻) with this sense of “regulating” or “putting in order” (攸), you get the rich meaning of `修`: a person actively working to mend, improve, decorate, or cultivate something, bringing it from a lesser state to a better one.

The true depth of `修` is revealed in its cultural significance, particularly in Chinese philosophy. While it means “to fix” in daily life, it also carries the profound weight of personal and spiritual development. The most important concept is `修身` (xiū shēn) - self-cultivation. This is a cornerstone of Confucianism, summarized in the famous phrase: `修身、齐家、治国、平天下` (xiū shēn, qí jiā, zhì guó, píng tiānxià), which means “Cultivate the self, regulate the family, govern the state, and bring peace to the world.” For Confucius, all social and political order begins with the individual's commitment to moral and ethical self-improvement. This can be compared to the Western concept of “self-improvement,” but there's a key difference. Western self-improvement is often goal-oriented and focused on external skills or happiness (e.g., “7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” learning a new skill for a promotion). Chinese `修身` is a deeper, lifelong process of polishing one's inner character, emphasizing patience, discipline, and moral righteousness for the good of the community and family, not just the individual. It's less about “life hacks” and more about a holistic, continuous journey of becoming a more virtuous and harmonious person. In Daoism and Buddhism, this idea is expressed as `修行` (xiū xíng) - spiritual practice. It refers to the disciplined practices—like meditation, chanting, and adhering to moral precepts—that one undertakes to achieve enlightenment or harmony with the Dao. Here, `修` means to cultivate one's spirit and mind to transcend the mundane world.

`修` is an extremely common and practical word in modern China, used in many different contexts.

• Physical Repair: This is its most frequent use. It's the go-to verb for fixing almost anything.
  • `修理东西` (xiūlǐ dōngxi) - to repair things
  • `修车` (xiū chē) - to fix a car
  • `修电脑` (xiū diànnǎo) - to fix a computer
• Construction and Renovation: It's used for building infrastructure or decorating a home.
  • `修建公路` (xiūjiàn gōnglù) - to build a highway
  • `装修房子` (zhuāngxiū fángzi) - to renovate a house
• Academics and Study: In a university context, `修` means “to take a course” or “to major in.”
  • `修一门课` (xiū yī mén kè) - to take a course
  • `双修` (shuāng xiū) - to pursue a double major
• Personal Grooming and Editing: It can also mean to trim, shape, or modify.
  • `修指甲` (xiū zhǐjia) - to do a manicure/trim nails
  • `修改文章` (xiūgǎi wénzhāng) - to revise/edit an article

• Example 1:
  • 我的手机坏了，得拿去修一下。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de shǒujī huài le, děi ná qù xiū yíxià.
  • English: My phone is broken, I need to take it to be repaired.
  • Analysis: This is the most common, everyday use of `修`, meaning “to fix” or “to repair.”
• Example 2:
  • 政府计划修建一条连接两个城市的高速铁路。
  • Pinyin: Zhèngfǔ jìhuà xiūjiàn yī tiáo liánjiē liǎng gè chéngshì de gāosù tiělù.
  • English: The government plans to build a high-speed railway connecting the two cities.
  • Analysis: Here, `修建` (xiūjiàn) is used for large-scale construction projects, like infrastructure.
• Example 3:
  • 我下个学期打算修一门中国历史课。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ xià ge xuéqī dǎsuàn xiū yī mén Zhōngguó lìshǐ kè.
  • English: Next semester, I plan to take a Chinese history course.
  • Analysis: In an academic context, `修` means to formally enroll in and take a class.
• Example 4:
  • 古人认为修身养性是人生的重要课题。
  • Pinyin: Gǔrén rènwéi xiūshēn yǎngxìng shì rénshēng de zhòngyào kètí.
  • English: The ancients believed that cultivating one's moral character was an important task in life.
  • Analysis: This sentence uses the philosophical concept `修身` (xiūshēn), meaning “to cultivate the self.” `养性` (yǎngxìng) means “to nurture one's temperament.”
• Example 5:
  • 这份报告需要修改一下，有些数据不准确。
  • Pinyin: Zhè fèn bàogào xūyào xiūgǎi yíxià, yǒu xiē shùjù bù zhǔnquè.
  • English: This report needs to be revised; some of the data is inaccurate.
  • Analysis: `修改` (xiūgǎi) specifically means to amend or modify something that already exists, like a document, plan, or law.
• Example 6:
  • 我的自行车链条掉了，你能帮我修好吗？
  • Pinyin: Wǒ de zìxíngchē liàntiáo diào le, nǐ néng bāng wǒ xiū hǎo ma?
  • English: My bicycle chain fell off, can you help me fix it?
  • Analysis: The resultative complement `好` (hǎo) is often added after `修` to indicate that the repair was completed successfully.
• Example 7:
  • 他正在装修他的新公寓，下个月才能搬进去。
  • Pinyin: Tā zhèngzài zhuāngxiū tā de xīn gōngyù, xià ge yuè cái néng bān jìnqù.
  • English: He is renovating his new apartment and can only move in next month.
  • Analysis: `装修` (zhuāngxiū) is a specific compound word for decorating and renovating an interior space.
• Example 8:
  • 很多年轻人对佛教修行的方式很感兴趣。
  • Pinyin: Hěn duō niánqīngrén duì Fójiào xiūxíng de fāngshì hěn gǎn xìngqù.
  • English: Many young people are very interested in the methods of Buddhist spiritual practice.
  • Analysis: This shows the religious/spiritual usage of `修` in the word `修行` (xiūxíng), which means to cultivate oneself through spiritual discipline.
• Example 9:
  • 为了找个好工作，她决定在大学双修金融和计算机科学。
  • Pinyin: Wèile zhǎo ge hǎo gōngzuò, tā juédìng zài dàxué shuāngxiū jīnróng hé jìsuànjī kēxué.
  • English: In order to find a good job, she decided to double major in finance and computer science in college.
  • Analysis: `双修` (shuāngxiū) literally means “double cultivate” and is the standard term for doing a double major.
• Example 10:
  • 你需要修一下你的眉毛，有点乱。
  • Pinyin: Nǐ xūyào xiū yíxià nǐ de méimao, yǒudiǎn luàn.
  • English: You need to shape your eyebrows a bit, they are a little messy.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the use of `修` for personal grooming, meaning to trim or shape.

• `修` (xiū) vs. `弄好` (nòng hǎo): `修` implies a skilled process of repairing something that is broken. `弄好` is much more general and just means “to get something done” or “to make something work.” You would `修` a complex engine, but you could `弄好` a projector for a meeting (which might just involve plugging it in correctly).
• `修` (xiū) vs. `建` (jiàn): In construction, `修` (often in `修建`) is used for infrastructure like roads, bridges, and canals, or for repairing existing structures. `建` (jiàn) or `盖` (gài) is more common for constructing new buildings from the ground up. You `建` a new skyscraper, but you `修` a new subway line.
• Common Mistake: “Studying” a language. A learner might incorrectly say “我修中文” (Wǒ xiū Zhōngwén) to mean “I study Chinese.” This is wrong. `修` is only used for taking specific, formal courses (`修课`). The general verb for studying a subject or skill is `学` (xué) or `学习` (xuéxí). The correct sentence is “我学中文” (Wǒ xué Zhōngwén).

• 修理 (xiūlǐ) - The most common two-character verb for “to repair” or “to fix” an object.
• 修建 (xiūjiàn) - To build or construct, almost exclusively used for large infrastructure like roads, bridges, or dams.
• 修改 (xiūgǎi) - To revise, amend, or modify something non-physical, like a document, a law, or a plan.
• 装修 (zhuāngxiū) - To renovate, decorate, or furnish an interior space like a home or office.
• 维修 (wéixiū) - A more formal or technical term for “to maintain and repair,” often seen on signs for service centers.
• 修身 (xiūshēn) - The profound Confucian concept of cultivating one's moral and ethical character.
• 修行 (xiūxíng) - The Daoist or Buddhist concept of cultivating oneself through spiritual practice.
• 进修 (jìnxiū) - To engage in advanced studies or professional development, often done after one has already started working.
• 学 (xué) - The general verb “to learn” or “to study,” used as a contrast to the academic course-taking sense of `修`.