Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ====== xiūfù: 修复 - To Repair, To Restore ====== ===== Quick Summary ===== * **Keywords:** xiufu, 修复, repair Chinese, restore Chinese, fix Chinese, how to say repair in Chinese, xiufu meaning, Chinese verb for restoration, fix a bug Chinese, mend a relationship Chinese. * **Summary:** Learn the versatile Chinese verb **修复 (xiūfù)**, which means "to repair" or "to restore." More than just a simple "fix," `修复` implies a careful and complete process of returning something—whether it's a corrupted computer file, an ancient temple, or a broken relationship—to its original, proper state. This guide covers its meaning, cultural significance, and practical use in modern China. ===== Core Meaning ===== * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** xiū fù * **Part of Speech:** Verb * **HSK Level:** HSK 5 * **Concise Definition:** To repair or restore something, often to a complete or original state. * **In a Nutshell:** Think of `修复` as "to restore to wholeness." While the English word "fix" can mean a quick patch-up, `修复` carries a connotation of skill, completeness, and returning an item or situation to its correct, functional form. It's the word you use for bringing a damaged classic car back to mint condition, recovering a corrupted database, or even mending a damaged reputation. ===== Character Breakdown ===== * **修 (xiū):** This character means "to repair," "to build," "to decorate," or even "to cultivate" (as in self-cultivation). The left side is the person radical (亻), indicating an action performed by a human. * **复 (fù):** This character means "to return," "to recover," or "to repeat." It suggests a movement back to a previous state. * Together, **修复 (xiūfù)** literally means "to repair and return." The combination powerfully conveys the idea of actively fixing something to bring it back to its original, proper condition. ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== In Chinese culture, there is a deep-seated respect for history, continuity, and craftsmanship. **修复 (xiūfù)** taps directly into this value system. It's not just about making something work again; it's about honoring its original form and function. This is most visible in the meticulous restoration of ancient artifacts, temples (`修复古建筑`), and calligraphy. The goal is not to create something new, but to painstakingly preserve the old. This philosophy emphasizes patience, skill, and a connection to the past. A useful comparison is to the Western concepts of "repair" vs. "restore." * **Repair/Fix:** In English, "repair" or "fix" can be very pragmatic and utilitarian. You fix a leaky faucet to stop the dripping. The aesthetic or original state is secondary to the function. * **修复 (xiūfù):** While `修复` can be used for practical things, it often carries the weight of "restoration." It implies a higher level of care. When you `修复` a relationship (`关系`), you're not just patching things over; you're trying to return it to a state of health and trust. This reflects a cultural desire for harmony and completeness over quick, superficial solutions. ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== `修复` is a common and versatile word used in both technical and abstract contexts. ==== Physical Objects & Structures ==== This is the most straightforward usage, often for complex or valuable items. It feels more formal or significant than the simple `修 (xiū)`. * **Usage:** `修复古画` (xiūfù gǔhuà) - To restore an ancient painting. * **Usage:** `修复被洪水冲毁的桥梁` (xiūfù bèi hóngshuǐ chōnghuǐ de qiáoliáng) - To repair the bridge destroyed by the flood. ==== Technology & Data ==== This is an extremely common usage in the digital age. It's the standard term for fixing bugs, vulnerabilities, or corrupted data. * **Usage:** `工程师正在修复系统漏洞` (gōngchéngshī zhèngzài xiūfù xìtǒng lòudòng) - The engineers are patching the system vulnerabilities. * **Usage:** `我的照片文件损坏了，有没有软件可以修复？` (Wǒ de zhàopiàn wénjiàn sǔnhuàile, yǒu méiyǒu ruǎnjiàn kěyǐ xiūfù?) - My photo file is corrupted, is there any software that can repair it? ==== Abstract Concepts ==== `修复` can be used metaphorically for intangible things, which is where it shows its depth. * **Usage:** `他们正在努力修复破裂的关系。` (Tāmen zhèngzài nǔlì xiūfù pòliè de guānxì.) - They are trying hard to mend their broken relationship. * **Usage:** `这次公关活动是为了修复公司的品牌形象。` (Zhè cì gōngguān huódòng shì wèile xiūfù gōngsī de pǐnpái xíngxiàng.) - This PR event is for the purpose of restoring the company's brand image. ==== Ecology & Biology ==== It is also used in scientific contexts to mean restoration. * **Usage:** `这个项目旨在修复当地的生态系统。` (Zhège xiàngmù zhǐ zài xiūfù dāngdì de shēngtài xìtǒng.) - This project aims to restore the local ecosystem. ===== Example Sentences ===== * **Example 1:** * 故宫的专家们正在**修复**一件珍贵的明代瓷器。 * Pinyin: Gùgōng de zhuānjiāmen zhèngzài **xiūfù** yí jiàn zhēnguì de Míngdài cíqì. * English: The experts at the Palace Museum are restoring a precious piece of Ming Dynasty porcelain. * Analysis: This is a classic example of `修复` used for high-value cultural artifacts. It implies great skill and care. * **Example 2:** * 软件更新包含了很多重要的安全**修复**。 * Pinyin: Ruǎnjiàn gēngxīn bāohánle hěn duō zhòngyào de ānquán **xiūfù**. * English: The software update contains many important security fixes. * Analysis: Here, `修复` is used as a noun meaning "a fix" or "a patch" in a technical context. This is very common in IT. * **Example 3:** * 他们之间的信任一旦被打破，就很难**修复**了。 * Pinyin: Tāmen zhījiān de xìnrèn yídàn bèi dǎpò, jiù hěn nán **xiūfù** le. * English: Once the trust between them is broken, it's very difficult to repair. * Analysis: A powerful metaphorical use of `修复` for an abstract concept like trust. * **Example 4:** * 道路施工队正在连夜**修复**被地震损坏的公路。 * Pinyin: Dàolù shīgōngduì zhèngzài liányè **xiūfù** bèi dìzhèn sǔnhuài de gōnglù. * English: The road construction crew is working through the night to repair the highway damaged by the earthquake. * Analysis: This shows `修复` used for large-scale infrastructure repair after a major event. * **Example 5:** * 我不小心删除了重要文件，希望能**修复**硬盘并找回数据。 * Pinyin: Wǒ bù xiǎoxīn shānchúle zhòngyào wénjiàn, xīwàng néng **xiūfù** yìngpán bìng zhǎohuí shùjù. * English: I accidentally deleted an important file; I hope to repair the hard drive and recover the data. * Analysis: Another common digital usage, connecting the physical repair of the drive with the restoration of its data. * **Example 6:** * 经过多年的努力，这片湿地的生态环境终于得到了**修复**。 * Pinyin: Jīngguò duōnián de nǔlì, zhè piàn shīdì de shēngtài huánjìng zhōngyú dédàole **xiūfù**. * English: After many years of effort, the ecosystem of this wetland has finally been restored. * Analysis: Here, `得到修复` (dédào xiūfù) is a passive structure meaning "to be restored." * **Example 7:** * 吵架之后，他买了一束花，试图**修复**他和女朋友的关系。 * Pinyin: Chǎojià zhīhòu, tā mǎile yí shù huā, shìtú **xiūfù** tā hé nǚpéngyou de guānxì. * English: After the argument, he bought a bouquet of flowers, attempting to mend the relationship with his girlfriend. * Analysis: A very practical, everyday example of using `修复` for interpersonal relationships. * **Example 8:** * 这座古老的教堂在战争中被毁，战后人们花了五十年才将它**修复**。 * Pinyin: Zhè zuò gǔlǎo de jiàotáng zài zhànzhēng zhōng bèi huǐ, zhànhòu rénmen huāle wǔshí nián cái jiāng tā **xiūfù**. * English: This ancient church was destroyed in the war; it took people fifty years to restore it afterward. * Analysis: The long time frame emphasizes the thorough and difficult nature of the `修复` process. * **Example 9:** * 他的声誉因丑闻而受损，需要时间来**修复**。 * Pinyin: Tā de shēngyù yīn chǒuwén ér shòusǔn, xūyào shíjiān lái **xiūfù**. * English: His reputation was damaged by the scandal and will need time to be repaired. * Analysis: Shows that intangible things like reputation (`声誉`) can also be the object of `修复`. * **Example 10:** * 这个模型太旧了，很多零件都找不到了，恐怕无法**修复**。 * Pinyin: Zhège móxíng tài jiù le, hěn duō língjiàn dōu zhǎo bu dào le, kǒngpà wúfǎ **xiūfù**. * English: This model is too old, and many parts can't be found. I'm afraid it cannot be repaired. * Analysis: `无法修复` (wúfǎ xiūfù) is a common phrase meaning "cannot be repaired" or "is beyond repair." ===== Nuances and Common Mistakes ===== The most common mistake for learners is not knowing when to use `修复` versus its simpler relatives, `修 (xiū)` and `修理 (xiūlǐ)`. * **`修复 (xiūfù)` vs. `修理 (xiūlǐ)`:** * **`修理 (xiūlǐ)`:** This is your go-to word for general, everyday repairs, especially for machines and appliances. It's the word a handyman or mechanic would use. (e.g., `修理电视` - fix the TV, `修理汽车` - repair the car). * **`修复 (xiūfù)`:** Use this for more complex, technical, or significant restoration. It implies bringing something back to its complete or original state. You `修理` a car's engine, but you might `修复` a totaled classic car. You `修复` a system bug, not `修理`. * **Incorrect:** `我想请人来修复我的洗衣机。` (I want someone to come and restore my washing machine.) * **Correct:** `我想请人来修理我的洗衣机。` (I want someone to come and repair my washing machine.) * **`修复 (xiūfù)` vs. `修 (xiū)`:** * **`修 (xiū)`:** This is the simplest and most colloquial verb for "to fix." It's often used for smaller, simpler tasks. (e.g., `修一下自行车` - fix the bike, `修鞋` - mend shoes). * **`修复 (xiūfù)`:** Using `修复` for a simple bike repair would sound overly formal and dramatic, as if you were performing a museum-quality restoration. * **Incorrect:** `你能帮我修复一下这支笔吗？` (Can you help me restore this pen?) * **Correct:** `你能帮我修一下这支笔吗？` (Can you help me fix this pen?) In short, think of the scale: **修 (simple fix) < 修理 (general repair) < 修复 (complete restoration)**. ===== Related Terms and Concepts ===== * [[修理]] (xiūlǐ) - A very common synonym, but typically used for everyday mechanical repairs of appliances and vehicles. * [[修]] (xiū) - The single-character root of `修复`. Used alone, it's a more colloquial term for a simple "fix." * [[恢复]] (huīfù) - To recover or resume. While `修复` fixes a damaged object, `恢复` is about a state or function returning to normal (e.g., `恢复健康` - to recover health; `恢复秩序` - to restore order). * [[重建]] (chóngjiàn) - To rebuild. This is used when something is completely destroyed and must be built again from scratch, whereas `修复` implies the original item is damaged but still exists. * [[弥补]] (míbǔ) - To make up for; to compensate for. This is used for deficits, losses, or mistakes, not physical damage. (e.g., `弥补损失` - make up for a loss). * [[修补]] (xiūbǔ) - To mend or to patch. This suggests a smaller-scale repair, like darning a sock or patching a small hole in a wall. It lacks the "full restoration" sense of `修复`. * [[挽救]] (wǎnjiù) - To save or rescue. This implies a sense of urgency and preventing a total loss, such as `挽救生命` (save a life) or `挽救一个濒临破产的公司` (save a company on the brink of bankruptcy).