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补充 (bǔ chōng) — to replenish, to supplement, to add (what is lacking)

Definition

补充 (bǔchōng) means to add or fill in what is missing or incomplete (information, supplies, details). Unlike 弥补, which compensates for a loss or mistake, 补充 is neutral and just supplies more of what's needed.

verb
to replenishto supplementto add (what is lacking)
Measure word · 个

Examples

  • 补充。
    Wǒ xū yào bǔ chōng yì xiē shuǐ.
    I need to replenish some water.
  • 补充。
    Zhè ge bào gào hái yào bǔ chōng gèng duō shù jù.
    This report also needs to supplement more data.
  • 补充。
    Qǐng nǐ bǔ chōng yí xià gāng cái shuō de nèi róng.
    Please supplement the content you just said.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

补bǔmake up
充chōngfill

Make up and fill combine to mean replenish or supplement.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 補; 补 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
衤Written in full as衣yīclothes
Sound part声符shēngfú
甫
甫fǔ補bǔ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 補 shows 衤 (clothes) beside 甫, which gives the sound; the simplified 补 is a later shorthand, so its shape is not the historical breakdown.

Open 补 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

  • 𠫓𠫓𠫓a newborn
  • 儿儿érstanding person

充 pairs 𠫓, a newborn, with 儿, a standing person, to picture a newborn growing to stand.

Open 充 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5HSK 2.0 Level 5Abstract Concepts

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