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减退 (jiǎn tuì) — to decline, to diminish, to ebb

Definition

减退 means a capacity or intensity gradually weakens over time (interest, ability, symptoms). Unlike 下降 (numbers/prices dropping), it focuses on gradual decline of non-measurable things; stronger than 减弱.

verb
to declineto diminishto ebb

Examples

  • 减退。
    Tā de xìng qù zhú jiàn jiǎn tuì le.
    His interest gradually declined.
  • ，减退。
    Chī le yào yǐ hòu, fā shāo de zhèng zhuàng kāi shǐ jiǎn tuì.
    After taking the medicine, the fever symptoms began to subside.
  • ，减退。
    Suí zhe nián líng zēng zhǎng, tā de yùn dòng néng lì míng xiǎn jiǎn tuì.
    As he ages, his athletic ability noticeably declines.

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jiǎndecrease
退tuìrecede

减 points to decrease and 退 to receding, together giving the sense of ebbing or declining.

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 →

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

  • 皀皀jífood vessel
  • 夊夊suīdownward foot

退 originally showed 皀, a food vessel, with 夊, a downward foot, for leaving the table after eating. In modern 退, the vessel part 皀 changed into an unrelated shape.

Open 退 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Change & Process

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