缝缝补补 (féng féng bǔ bǔ) — to sew and mend (repeatedly or continuously); (figurative) to patch up or fix bit by bit

Definition

Reduplicated verb (AABB) meaning 'sew and mend repeatedly' — the figure repeats the action over many small repairs. Used literally for mending clothes and figuratively for patching up a relationship or situation bit by bit.

verb
to sew and mend (repeatedly or continuously)(figurative) to patch up or fix bit by bit

Examples

  • 缝缝补补，。
    Nǎi nai měi tiān dōu zài jiā lǐ féng féng bǔ bǔ, bǎ jiù yī fu gǎi chéng xīn de.
    Grandma spends every day at home sewing and mending, turning old clothes into new ones.
  • 缝缝补补。
    Tā men yòng féng féng bǔ bǔ de fāng fǎ wéi chí zhe zhè duàn guān xì.
    They maintain this relationship by patching it up bit by bit.
  • 缝缝补补，。
    Zhè jiàn yī fu yǐ jīng féng féng bǔ bǔ le hěn duō cì, dàn mā ma hái shì shě bu de rēng.
    This piece of clothing has been mended many times, but Mom still can't bear to throw it away.

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.

缝缝
缝fèngsew缝fèngsew
补补
补bǔmend补bǔmend

The actions 缝 (sew) and 补 (mend) appear twice to suggest continuous sewing and mending.

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 縫; 缝 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糹Written in full as糸mì
Sound part声符shēngfú
逢
逢féng縫fèng(r)
Same sound today

The traditional form 縫 pairs 糸 with 逢; 逢 gives the sound, and 糸 fits the sense. The simplified 缝 is a shorthand.

Open 缝 →

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 縫; 缝 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糹Written in full as糸mì
Sound part声符shēngfú
逢
逢féng縫fèng(r)
Same sound today

The traditional form 縫 pairs 糸 with 逢; 逢 gives the sound, and 糸 fits the sense. The simplified 缝 is a shorthand.

Open 缝 →

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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