Chinese word

修养

Pronunciation

Pinyinxiū yǎng

Meaning

  • nounself-cultivation

Example

读书能提高一个人的修养。dú shū néng tí gāo yí gè rén de xiū yǎng

Reading can improve a person's self-cultivation.

Illustration for 修养 (self-cultivation)

More examples

礼貌可以表现一个人的修养。lǐ mào ké yǐ biǎo xiàn yí gè rén de xiū yǎng

Politeness can show a person's self-cultivation.

Core concept

A well-tended inner life whose learning and discipline become visible in conduct.

Common phrases

  • 有修养的人yǒu xiū yǎng de rén

    a cultured person

  • 提高修养tí gāo xiū yǎng

    improve one's self-cultivation

  • 精神修养jīng shén xiū yǎng

    spiritual self-cultivation

Similar words

教养jiào yǎng: The manners and cultural knowledge formed through upbringing and education.
风度fēng dù: An outward air of calmness and dignity in a person's manner.
举止jú zhǐ: A person's observable movements, gestures, and way of behaving.
礼貌lǐ mào: Respectful language and conduct used toward other people.

Definition in Chinese

通过学习与自我修正，长期培养并表现出来的内在品格、礼仪与文化素质。tōng guò xué xí yǔ zì wǒ xiū zhèng cháng qī péi yǎng bìng biǎo xiàn chū lái de nèi zài pǐn gé lǐ yí yǔ wén huà sù zhì

Word origin

修 (xiū, "to refine") + 养 (yǎng, "to nourish") frames good character as something that improves through deliberate care and continued growth.

Usage tips

  • In everyday conversation, saying that someone lacks this quality can sound like a broad judgment of character, so naming the specific behavior is often more neutral.

Other meanings

  • literacynoun

Word lists with this word