About
补, the traditional form of 補, is a phono-semantic compound. Its clothing radical 衤 on the left provides the semantic category of garments and textiles, while the component 卜 on the right indicates the pronunciation. Its original meaning referred to the concrete act of mending torn clothes or patching fabric. This specific action of repairing a deficit through addition broadened into an abstract concept, leading the character to signify any action that supplements a shortage, compensates for a weakness, or makes up for a loss.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
我今天要补课。
我需要补办护照。
医生建议我补钙。
因为生病，他需要补考。
这个补丁打得很好。
公司会补偿你的损失。
为了补充维生素，他多吃水果。
经过补充调查，证据更加充分。