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补习 (bǔ xí) — to take supplementary classes, to cram (for academic subjects)

Definition

补习 (bǔxí) means taking paid extra lessons in academic subjects, usually outside school. Unlike 温习 or 自习, it implies external classes with a teacher, not reviewing or studying on your own.

verb
to take supplementary classesto cram (for academic subjects)

Examples

  • 补习。
    Wǒ měi gè zhōu mò dōu qù bǔ xí shù xué.
    I go to cram math classes every weekend.
  • 补习，。
    Tōng guò bǔ xí, tā de chéng jì tí gāo le bù shǎo.
    Through supplementary tutoring, his grades improved a lot.
  • 补习。
    Shǔ jià tā dǎ suàn bǔ xí yīng yǔ hé wù lǐ.
    He plans to take extra lessons in English and physics during summer vacation.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

补bǔsupplementary
习xístudy

Supplementary study means taking extra lessons.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 習; 习 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 習 pairs 羽 (wings) with 日 (sun), showing a bird learning to fly; the simplified 习 is a later shorthand.

Open 习 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6School & Education

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