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修饰 (xiū shì) — (verb) to decorate, to embellish; to polish (a piece of writing); (noun) decoration, adornment; (noun) (linguistics) modification, qualification

Definition

修饰 is a formal word meaning 'to decorate / polish', and in linguistics it means to modify (as an adjective modifies a noun). For everyday 'decorate' of a room, 装饰 is more common.

verb
to decorateto embellishto polish (a piece of writing)
noun
decorationadornment(linguistics) modificationqualification

Examples

  • 修饰。
    Tā yòng huā lái xiū shì fáng jiān.
    She uses flowers to decorate the room.
  • 修饰，。
    Tā de wén zhāng xiū shì le hǎo jǐ cì, biàn de gèng hǎo.
    His essay was polished several times and became better.
  • 修饰，“”。
    Xíng róng cí xiū shì míng cí, lì rú "hóng píng guǒ".
    Adjectives modify nouns, for example "red apple".

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xiūrepair
饰shìadorn

修 and 饰 both describe making something neat or attractive, so together they mean to adorn or polish.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 飾; 饰 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
巾巾jīncloth
Sound part声符shēngfú
飤
飤sì飾shì
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 飾 pairs 巾 (cloth) with 飤 as a sound part; the simplified 饰 is a later abbreviation.

Open 饰 →
Appears in
Art & Fine ArtsReading & Writing

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