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修改 (xiū gǎi) — to modify, to revise, to amend

Definition

修改 is a general-purpose 'revise / amend' used for drafts, designs, and policies. 改正 is for fixing errors specifically; 修订 is more formal, used for published texts and plans.

verb
to modifyto reviseto amend

Examples

  • 修改。
    Qǐng xiū gǎi yí xià zhè ge wén jiàn.
    Please revise this document.
  • 修改。
    Tā xiū gǎi le yuán lái de shè jì.
    He modified the original design.
  • 修改。
    Wǒ men xū yào xiū gǎi cuò wù de dì fāng.
    We need to correct the mistakes.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

修xiūrevise
改gǎialter

修 and 改 both mean to alter or correct, giving the sense of making changes to a text or plan.

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
攴攴pū
Sound part声符shēngfú
巳
巳sì改gǎi
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

An early form of 改 paired 巳 as a sound part with 攴 as a meaning part; the sound part later changed.

Open 改 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5HSK 2.0 Level 5Change & Process

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