pick up lost items; remedy omissions
Meanings
2 senses · 6 examplesverb
to pick up things lost by others and keep them for oneself
literaryCommonly appears in the classical idiom '道不拾遗', describing an honest society where lost items are not stolen.
Doors are left unlocked at night, and no one picks up lost items from the road.
The folk customs here are simple and honest, truly achieving the standard where lost items are not picked up.
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Keeping found items without returning them is unjust.
verb
to supplement what others have omitted; to remedy deficiencies
literaryAlmost always used in the set phrase '拾遗补阙' (remedy omissions and fill vacancies), often referring to correcting errors in historical records or supplementing incomplete work.
His duty is to remedy omissions and fill gaps, perfecting this historical text.
An editor's job is to remedy deficiencies, supplementing the missing content completely.
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This dictionary has been revised many times, remedying omissions and becoming increasingly comprehensive.