How to Write 修 (xiū) — Meaning “to repair, study, or trim”

Imagine a person (亻) carefully trimming a tree branch using a tool shaped like the right side 攸. This visual reminds you that 修 means to repair or trim something with care.

The left radical 亻 is narrow and tilted slightly to the right, while the right side 攸 is wider. A common mistake is to make the left vertical stroke too short—it should be about the same height as the right side's top part.

Unlike 伯 (bó, older brother) and 估 (gū, estimate), which use simple phonetic components, 修 has the complex right side 攸. Visually, 修 has a vertical stroke on the far right, while both 伯 and 估 have a simple 白 or 古 on the right.

修 appears in everyday words like 修理 (repair a broken item), 装修 (renovate a house), and 修改 (revise a document). Culturally, 修 also appears in terms like 修身 (self-cultivation), reflecting the traditional idea of improving oneself through study.

Common words containing 修 include: 修理 (xiū lǐ) — to repair or fix; 装修 (zhuāng xiū) — To renovate; to decorate (a house or room); 修改 (xiū gǎi) — to revise or modify.