恢復 / 恢复
huīfù
The English phrase "restoration" is translated into Chinese as 恢復 / 恢复 (huīfù). If unsure, use 恢復 / 恢复. Wiktionary also lists 回復 / 回复 (huífù).
Meaning: the process of bringing an object back to its original state (noun)
Ways to say it
| Chinese | Romanization (Wiktionary) |
|---|---|
| 恢復 / 恢复 | huīfù |
| 回復 / 回复 | huífù |
恢復 / 恢复 is used to describe the process of bringing an object back to its original state, as well as the restoration of health or order.
What does it mean word for word?
The characters in 恢復 / 恢复 literally convey the idea of returning to a previous state or following a previous path, consisting of the components for return/revert (恢) and follow/return (復).
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Taiwan or Hong Kong, the term 修复 is commonly used to express restoration.
How does it change in a sentence?
Adding the particle 了 after 恢復 indicates that the restoration or recovery has been completed, as in 恢復了.
How do you pronounce it?
huīfù
Did you know?
- While 恢復 is used for objects, the concept of 'restoring' a relationship is often expressed as 破镜重圆 (pò jìng chóng yuán). This idiom literally means 'a broken mirror becoming round again'.
- In Chinese history, the 'Restoration' of the Ming Dynasty is referred to as 南明 (Southern Ming). Rather than using the general word for restoration, it uses a geographic marker to denote the attempt to bring back the empire.
- The character 復 carries a dual meaning of both 'returning to a former state' and 'doing something again'. This makes the concept of 'restoration' linguistically tied to the idea of 'repetition' in Chinese.
Examples in context
- 医生建议休息几天，以恢复体力。The doctor recommends resting for a few days to restore your strength.
- 我们需要把这个古老的废弃工厂复原。We need to restore this old abandoned factory.
- 这家公司正在修复这座古代建筑。This company is currently restoring this ancient building.
- 她打算翻新她的卧室，让它看起来更现代化一些。She plans to renovate her bedroom to make it look more modern.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “restoration” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
