繕 (shàn) - To repair, mend, fix & to copy out neatly, transcribe

繕Tone 4

shàn ｜ 18 strokes ｜ radical:

善上

繕 · shàn

To repair, mend, fix;

to copy out neatly, transcribe;

to put in order, arrange.

To repair, mend, fixto copy out neatly, transcribeto put in order, arrange.

Usage highlights

To repairTo mend and make upTo copy outTo put in orderRepair feeRepairman

Synonyms

  • 修— to repair, to fix
  • 補— to mend, to patch
  • 寫— to write, to copy (in the transcribing sense)

Antonyms

  • 毀— to destroy, to damage
  • 壞— to break, to ruin

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The tailor mended the torn clothes (繕補衣服).
  • Please copy this document neatly (繕寫文件).
  • Funds were allocated for building repairs (建築物修繕).
  • He is good at repairing tools (善於修繕工具).

Collocations

  • To repair(修繕)
  • To mend and make up(繕補)
  • To copy out(繕寫)
  • To put in order(整治繕理)
  • Repair fee(繕費)
  • Repairman(繕工)

Idioms

  • To repair arms and train soldiers(繕甲厲兵)
  • To repair tools and wait for the right time(繕械待時)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • The character combines the silk radical (糹) with the phonetic component 善 (shàn), suggesting the mending of fabrics or the careful, good (善) work of copying.
  • Historically used in administrative and military contexts for maintaining records (transcribing) and equipment (repairing).
  • Embodies a Confucian value of maintaining order and proper condition in both material objects and documents.

FAQ