补救 (bǔ jiù) — to remedy, to put right

Definition

补救 is to fix something that has already gone wrong — a mistake, flaw, or loss — by taking corrective action. It focuses on repair after damage, unlike 改正 (correcting behavior/errors) or 补偿 (paying back a loss).

verb

to remedyto put right

Examples

补救。
Wǒ men bì xū jǐn kuài bǔ jiù zhè ge lòu dòng.
We must remedy this loophole as soon as possible.
，补救。
Chū xiàn wèn tí hòu, tā men cǎi qǔ le yǒu xiào de bǔ jiù cuò shī.
After problems arose, they took effective remedial measures.
，补救。
Shì gù fā shēng hòu, gōng sī lì jí jìn xíng bǔ jiù gōng zuò.
After the accident, the company immediately carried out remedial work.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

补bǔmend

救jiùsave

Mend and save combine to mean remedy.

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.

衤甫補

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

攴攴pū

Sound part声符shēngfú

求

求qiú救jiù

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

In 救, 求 gives the sound, and 攴 is the action part.

Open 救 →

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 HSK 2.0 Level 6 Change & Process