修行

xiūxíng
verb #16,981

Meanings

  1. 1 to practice spiritual cultivation (especially Buddhism or Daoism)
  2. 2 to devote oneself to perfecting one's art or craft

Characters

Literally 'cultivate one's practice' — dedicated spiritual or moral self-improvement.

Examples

Tā zài sìmiào lǐ xiūxíng le shí nián.
He practiced spiritual cultivation in a temple for ten years.
Xiūxíng bù zhǐshì dǎzuò, yě shì rìcháng shēnghuó zhōng de měi yī kè.
Spiritual practice is not just meditation — it's every moment of daily life.
Shīfu lǐng jìn mén, xiūxíng zài gèrén.
The master leads you to the door; the rest is up to you.

Tips

culture
修行 is central to Buddhist and Daoist traditions. The famous proverb 师父修行个人 emphasizes that a teacher can only guide — true progress depends on the individual.
usage
Can also be used loosely for any dedicated practice or self-improvement, not just religious cultivation. E.g., 做饭修行 (cooking is also a form of practice).

Stroke Order

xiū
xíng