fùxí: 复习 - To Review, To Revise

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• Summary: Discover the meaning of 复习 (fùxí), a crucial Chinese verb for any student, which means “to review” or “to revise.” This page breaks down how to use fùxí when preparing for an exam like the HSK, its cultural importance in China's education system, and how it differs from 学习 (xuéxí - to learn). Learn everything you need to know about this essential word for mastering your Chinese studies.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): fùxí
• Part of Speech: Verb
• HSK Level: HSK 2
• Concise Definition: To go over material that has already been studied to reinforce memory.
• In a Nutshell: Fùxí is the act of looking back over something you have already learned. It's not about encountering new information, but about solidifying old information. Think of it as the “practice and repeat” phase of learning. Whether you're flipping through flashcards before a quiz, re-reading a textbook chapter, or going over your notes from last week's class, you are doing fùxí. It is the essential engine of academic success in China.

• 复 (fù): This character's core meaning is “again,” “to repeat,” or “to return.” Imagine retracing your steps to go back to a place you've been before. This character captures that idea of repetition.
• 习 (xí): This character means “to practice” or “to study.” The traditional character 習 is a pictogram of a baby bird (羽 - feathers) over a representation of the sun (originally 白), symbolizing a young bird repeatedly flapping its wings to learn how to fly.
• When combined, 复习 (fùxí) literally means “to again practice” or “to repeat studies.” This perfectly describes the action of reviewing material you've already learned.

In Chinese culture, education is held in extremely high regard, and diligence is seen as the primary path to success. The concept of 复习 (fùxí) is central to this value system. It is not just a study technique but a reflection of a student's commitment and hard work. A useful comparison is with the Western concept of “cramming.” While cramming is a form of review, it often carries a negative connotation of last-minute, panicked, and superficial memorization. 复习 (fùxí), on the other hand, is viewed as a virtuous and necessary part of the entire learning process. The ideal is to review material consistently over time, not just before a test. This is encapsulated in the famous proverb 温故而知新 (wēn gù ér zhī xīn), which means “review the old and you will learn the new.” This suggests that by deeply understanding past knowledge through review, one can gain new insights and a more profound understanding. In a society with the famously rigorous gaokao (高考), the national college entrance exam, the discipline of constant 复习 is instilled in students from a very young age.

复习 (fùxí) is one of the most common words you'll hear in any academic context in China.

• In School and University: Students will constantly talk about it: “I need to go fùxí,” “Let's fùxí together.” Teachers will constantly instruct students: “Don't forget to fùxí Chapter 5 for the quiz.”
• Beyond Academics: While its primary domain is education, it can occasionally be used in a business context, such as “Let's fùxí the main points of the proposal” (我们复习一下这个方案的要点). However, this is less common, and other words like “回顾 (huígù)” (to look back on, to review) might be used instead.
• Connotation: The term is entirely neutral to positive. It implies diligence, responsibility, and a good work ethic. There is no negative connotation associated with it.

• Example 1:
  • 考试前我需要好好复习。
  • Pinyin: Kǎoshì qián wǒ xūyào hǎohǎo fùxí.
  • English: I need to review thoroughly before the exam.
  • Analysis: A classic and straightforward use. Note the use of 好好 (hǎohǎo), which means “properly” or “thoroughly,” emphasizing the seriousness of the review.
• Example 2:
  • 你复习了昨天的课文吗？
  • Pinyin: Nǐ fùxí le zuótiān de kèwén ma?
  • English: Have you reviewed yesterday's text?
  • Analysis: A common question between classmates or from a teacher. The particle “了 (le)” indicates the action has been completed.
• Example 3:
  • 我们一起复习汉语语法吧。
  • Pinyin: Wǒmen yīqǐ fùxí Hànyǔ yǔfǎ ba.
  • English: Let's review Chinese grammar together.
  • Analysis: Shows how 复习 can be a collaborative activity. The “吧 (ba)” at the end makes it a friendly suggestion.
• Example 4:
  • 老师让我们复习第一到第五课。
  • Pinyin: Lǎoshī ràng wǒmen fùxí dì-yī dào dì-wǔ kè.
  • English: The teacher told us to review from Lesson 1 to Lesson 5.
  • Analysis: Demonstrates how to specify the material being reviewed. “让 (ràng)” means “to let” or “to make someone do something.”
• Example 5:
  • 我每天花一个小时复习汉字。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ měi tiān huā yī ge xiǎoshí fùxí Hànzì.
  • English: I spend an hour every day reviewing Chinese characters.
  • Analysis: This sentence describes a consistent study habit, which is the cultural ideal of 复习.
• Example 6:
  • 对不起，我还没复习完。
  • Pinyin: Duìbuqǐ, wǒ hái méi fùxí wán.
  • English: Sorry, I haven't finished reviewing yet.
  • Analysis: “完 (wán)” is a result complement that indicates completion. “复习完 (fùxí wán)” means “to finish reviewing.”
• Example 7:
  • 为了通过HSK五级，他正在努力复习。
  • Pinyin: Wèile tōngguò HSK wǔ jí, tā zhèngzài nǔlì fùxí.
  • English: In order to pass HSK level 5, he is diligently reviewing.
  • Analysis: “为了 (wèile)” shows the purpose of the action. “正在 (zhèngzài)” indicates the action is in progress.
• Example 8:
  • 如果不经常复习，你很快就会忘记。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ bù jīngcháng fùxí, nǐ hěn kuài jiù huì wàngjì.
  • English: If you don't review often, you will forget very quickly.
  • Analysis: This sentence highlights the importance of consistent review, a core concept for language learners.
• Example 9:
  • 这次复习的重点是动词。
  • Pinyin: Zhè cì fùxí de zhòngdiǎn shì dòngcí.
  • English: The main point of this review session is verbs.
  • Analysis: Here, 复习 is used almost like a noun, meaning “the review” or “the review session.” “重点 (zhòngdiǎn)” means “key point.”
• Example 10:
  • 他把笔记拿出来，准备开始复习。
  • Pinyin: Tā bǎ bǐjì ná chūlái, zhǔnbèi kāishǐ fùxí.
  • English: He took out his notes, ready to start reviewing.
  • Analysis: This sentence paints a clear picture of the action of preparing to study. The “把 (bǎ)” construction is used to emphasize the object (the notes).

• 复习 (fùxí) vs. 学习 (xuéxí): This is the most critical distinction for a beginner.
  • 学习 (xuéxí) means to learn something for the first time.
  • 复习 (fùxí) means to go over something you have already learned.
  • Correct: 我今天学习了新的生词。(Wǒ jīntiān xuéxí le xīn de shēngcí.) - I learned new vocabulary words today.
  • Correct: 明天我要复习这些生词。(Míngtiān wǒ yào fùxí zhèxiē shēngcí.) - Tomorrow I need to review these vocabulary words.
  • Incorrect: 我要复习新的生词。 (This sounds contradictory, as “new” material is for xuéxí, not fùxí).
• “Review” in English vs. 复习 (fùxí): Be careful of this “false friend.” In English, “review” can mean “to write a critique or evaluation,” like a movie review or a book review. 复习 (fùxí) never has this meaning. The Chinese word for a critical review is 评论 (pínglùn) or, for a movie review, 影评 (yǐngpíng).
  • English: I read a review of the new movie.
  • Incorrect Chinese: 我读了一个关于新电影的复习。
  • Correct Chinese: 我读了一篇关于新电影的影评。(Wǒ dúle yī piān guānyú xīn diànyǐng de yǐngpíng.)

• 学习 (xuéxí) - To learn; the act of acquiring new knowledge, as opposed to reviewing old knowledge.
• 预习 (yùxí) - To preview; to prepare for a lesson before class. It's the opposite of fùxí.
• 练习 (liànxí) - To practice; to do exercises or drills to master a skill. Often done as part of fùxí.
• 考试 (kǎoshì) - Exam; test. The most common reason for students to fùxí.
• 功课 (gōngkè) - Homework; schoolwork. The material that you need to fùxí.
• 温习 (wēnxí) - To review. A very close synonym of fùxí, sometimes implying a slightly more gentle or casual review. Often used interchangeably.
• 温故知新 (wēn gù zhī xīn) - An idiom: “Review the old to learn the new.” The philosophical backbone of why fùxí is important.
• 补习 (bǔxí) - To take supplementary lessons; to attend cram school or tutoring.
• 自习 (zìxí) - Self-study; to study on your own, often in a designated quiet place like a library.