修修补补 (xiū xiū bǔ bǔ) — to patch up (in small, repeated ways); to tinker with; to make piecemeal repairs

Definition

An ABB-style verb phrase meaning to make repeated small fixes rather than a proper repair — implies the work is temporary and piecemeal. Often pairs with 维持 to suggest something is being held together by band-aids.

bound form
to patch up (in small, repeated ways)to tinker withto make piecemeal repairs

Examples

  • 修修补补，。
    Zhè jiàn yī fu yǐ jīng xiū xiū bǔ bǔ hěn duō cì le, bù rú mǎi jiàn xīn de.
    This piece of clothing has been patched up many times — you might as well buy a new one.
  • 修修补补，。
    Tā zǒng shì xiū xiū bǔ bǔ, cóng lái méi chè dǐ jiě jué wèn tí.
    He always just patches things up temporarily and never really solves the problem.
  • 修修补补，。
    Zhè ge xì tǒng kào xiū xiū bǔ bǔ wéi chí le hěn duō nián, xiàn zài bì xū chóng xīn shè jì.
    This system has been kept going with piecemeal fixes for years; now it must be redesigned.

Origin

Reduplicated word
构词法gòucífǎ
重叠chóngdiéReduplication

A syllable said twice — for affection, for softness, or simply because that is how the word is said.

修修repeated repair
修xiūrepair修xiūrepair
补补repeated mending
补bǔmend补bǔmend

'修' and '补' both mean to repair, and the repeated actions suggest small, repeated patching.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
彡彡shān
Sound part声符shēngfú
攸
攸yōu修xiū
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

修 is built from 攸, which gives the sound, and 彡, a set of three strokes that shows the meaning.

Open 修 →

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
彡彡shān
Sound part声符shēngfú
攸
攸yōu修xiū
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

修 is built from 攸, which gives the sound, and 彡, a set of three strokes that shows the meaning.

Open 修 →

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 →

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 →

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