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收敛 (shōu liǎn) — to restrain, to curb (one's emotions, behavior); (mathematics) to converge; to dwindle, to vanish (less common)

Definition

Two main senses: (1) to restrain/curb emotions or behavior (e.g. 收敛情绪); (2) the math term for a sequence or series converging. Less commonly, something gradually vanishing. Distinct from 汇合/汇聚 (things flowing together).

verb
to restrainto curb (one's emotions, behavior)(mathematics) to convergeto dwindleto vanish (less common)

Examples

  • ，收敛。
    Zài zhèng shì chǎng hé, tā xué huì le shōu liǎn zì jǐ de qíng xù.
    In formal occasions, he learned to restrain his emotions.
  • 收敛。
    Zhè ge shù liè shōu liǎn yú yí gè cháng shù.
    This sequence converges to a constant.
  • 收敛。
    Tā de nù qì màn màn shōu liǎn le.
    His anger gradually dwindled.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

收shōugather
敛liǎngather

收 and 敛 both denote gathering or restraint, giving the sense of drawing back or curbing behavior.

Characters in this word

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

Meaning part形符xíngfú
攴攴pū
Sound part声符shēngfú
丩
丩jiū收shōu
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

收 uses 攴 to show an action and 丩 as a sound clue; the old meaning was 'to arrest.'

Open 收 →

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 斂; 敛 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
攴攴pū
Sound part声符shēngfú
僉
僉qiān斂
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 斂 is built from 攴, a part tied to the meaning, and 僉, a part giving the sound; the simplified 敛 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the original pieces.

Open 敛 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9MathPersonality & Traits

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