复习
to review (study)
fùxí
What does 复习 mean?
复习 (fùxí) means 'to review' material you've already studied — going back over a lesson, textbook chapter, or vocabulary list to consolidate it before a test or to keep it fresh. Literally 复 ('again, repeat') + 习 ('study, practice'). It's a school-and-study word: 复习功课 ('review homework'), 复习生词 ('review new vocabulary'), 考试前要复习 ('you have to review before the exam').
It pairs with 预习 (yùxí, 'to preview / study in advance') as the two halves of good study habits — preview before class, review after. 复习 is not used for reviewing in the sense of evaluating ('review a movie / restaurant'); that's 评论 or 评价. It's strictly about going back over learning material.
Character breakdown
again; to repeat; to return
to study; to practice
Memory hook: 复 ('again') + 习 ('study') — to study again. Pair it with 预习 ('study ahead') and you have the bookends of class.
Example sentences
明天要考试，我得复习。
Míngtiān yào kǎoshì, wǒ děi fùxí.
I have an exam tomorrow, so I need to review.
spoken
你今天复习了吗？
Nǐ jīntiān fùxí le ma?
Did you review today?
spoken
我们一起复习生词，好吗？
Wǒmen yìqǐ fùxí shēngcí, hǎo ma?
Let's review the new vocabulary together, okay?
spoken
老师让我们好好复习这一课。
Lǎoshī ràng wǒmen hǎohǎo fùxí zhè yí kè.
The teacher told us to review this lesson thoroughly.
neutral
每天复习一点儿，就不会忘。
Měi tiān fùxí yìdiǎnr, jiù bú huì wàng.
Review a little every day and you won't forget.
neutral
Common phrases with 复习
Synonyms
温习 is a more literary, slightly old-fashioned word for 'review.' 复习 is the standard everyday term. Teachers and parents use 复习; 温习 shows up in formal writing.
回顾 ('to look back on / recap') is for reviewing events, achievements, or history (回顾过去一年 'look back on the past year'). 复习 is for school material specifically.
Don't confuse 复习 with
预习 is 'to preview' — study material before the class. 复习 is to review it after. They're the matched pair Chinese teachers drill into students.