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减缓 (jiǎn huǎn) — to slow down, to retard, to decelerate

Definition

Used for gradually reducing the speed or pace of a process (inflation, deterioration, decline). More formal and process-oriented than the everyday 放慢 or 变慢.

verb
to slow downto retardto decelerate

Examples

  • 减缓。
    Zhèng fǔ zhèng zài cǎi qǔ cuò shī jiǎn huǎn tōng huò péng zhàng de sù dù.
    The government is taking measures to slow down the rate of inflation.
  • 减缓。
    Zhè zhǒng yào kě yǐ jiǎn huǎn bìng qíng è huà.
    This medicine can retard the worsening of the illness.
  • ，减缓。
    Wǒ men bì xū jiǎn shǎo wū rǎn, jiǎn huǎn huán jìng è huà.
    We must reduce pollution to slow down environmental degradation.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

减jiǎnreduce
缓huǎnslow

减 and 缓 both convey lessening or slowing, so together they mean to slow down.

Characters in this word

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 減; 减 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 減 has 氵, water, and 咸, a seal: sealing off a stream of water lessens its flow. The simplified 减 is a later abbreviation.

Open 减 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 緩; 缓 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìsilk
Sound part声符shēngfú
爰
爰yuán緩huǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 緩 pairs 糸 (silk) with 爰, which gives the sound; the simplified 缓 is a later shorthand.

Open 缓 →
Appears in
Change & Process

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