紧缩 (jǐn suō) — to tighten, to cut back (on spending, budgets,…

Definition

紧缩 emphasizes 'tightening' economic conditions (policy, spending, credit) — broader scope than 缩减, which just means reducing size or quantity.

verb

to tightento cut back (on spending, budgets, or economic activity)

紧缩。
Zhèng fǔ jué dìng jǐn suō cái zhèng zhī chū yǐ kòng zhì tōng zhàng.
The government decided to tighten fiscal spending to control inflation.
紧缩。
Gōng sī bù dé bù jǐn suō rén yuán zhāo pìn lái jiàng dī chéng běn.
The company had to cut back on hiring to reduce costs.
紧缩，。
Zài jǐn suō shí qī, qǐ yè huì gèng jiā zhù zhòng xiào lǜ.
During a period of tightening, businesses will pay more attention to efficiency.

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

缩suōcontract

“紧” (tight) and “缩” (contract) reinforce each other, meaning to cut 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.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 緊; 紧 is its simplified writing.

臤糸緊

Meaning part形符xíngfú

糸糸mì

Sound part声符shēngfú

臤

臤qiān緊jǐn

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 緊 pairs 糸 (thread) with 臤 as a sound part; the simplified 紧 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 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.

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