暂缓 (zàn huǎn) — to postpone (temporarily), to defer

Definition

verb

to postpone (temporarily)to defer

，暂缓。
Yīn wèi tiān qì yuán yīn, bǐ sài zàn huǎn jìn xíng.
The match was postponed due to the weather.
暂缓。
Gōng sī jué dìng zàn huǎn xīn xiàng mù de qǐ dòng.
The company decided to defer the launch of the new project.
暂缓。
Zhèng fǔ zàn huǎn le shuì shōu gǎi gé fāng àn.
The government deferred the tax reform plan.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

暂zàntemporarily

暂缓 combines 暂 (temporarily) and 缓 (relax), meaning to defer for a while.

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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 暫; 暂 is its simplified writing.

斬日暫

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

斬

斬zhǎn暫zàn

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 暫 has 日 (day) for the meaning and 斬 (zhǎn) for the sound; the simplified 暂 is a later shorthand.

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.

Appears in