修养 xiūyǎng accomplishment
accomplishment; training; self-cultivation
How to remember 修养: 修 repair + 养 to raise = accomplishment.
Characters
How it is used
- Cultivated refinement - one's level of moral, cultural, or intellectual self-development - 很有修养 (hěn yǒu xiūyǎng) well-cultivated, cultured.
- Distinct from 教养 (jiàoyǎng, upbringing/good manners instilled by family) and 素质 (sùzhì, overall quality); 修养 is refinement one develops in oneself.
- Often domain-specific: 艺术修养 (artistic cultivation), 文学修养 (literary cultivation). Praising register.