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收缩 (shōu suō) — to shrink; to contract (in size or scope); to pull back; to withdraw; (physiology) to contract; systole

Definition

收缩 covers both 'shrink/contract' (size, scope, or muscle) and 'pull back/withdraw' (e.g., from markets). For pure size reduction use 缩小; for retreat with a sense of yielding use 退缩.

verb
to shrinkto contract (in size or scope)to pull backto withdraw(physiology) to contractsystole

Examples

  • 收缩。
    Zhè zhǒng bù liào yù shuǐ huì shōu suō yí cùn.
    This fabric shrinks an inch when it gets wet.
  • 收缩。
    Xīn zàng měi miǎo zhōng shōu suō yí cì.
    The heart contracts once per second.
  • 收缩。
    Gōng sī jì huà cóng hǎi wài shì chǎng quán miàn shōu suō.
    The company plans to fully withdraw from overseas markets.

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
缩suōshrink

收 denotes gathering and 缩 denotes shrinking, giving the sense of contracting or drawing back.

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 縮; 缩 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìstring, thread
Sound part声符shēngfú
宿
宿sù縮suō
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 縮 pairs 糸 (string, thread) with 宿, which gives the sound; the simplified 缩 is a shorthand.

Open 缩 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Change & Process

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