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缓慢 (huǎn màn) — (adj.) slow, unhurried

Definition

缓慢 is a written-form adjective for 'slow, unhurried,' stronger and more literary than the everyday 慢. Often used for pace, movement, or recovery, as in '河水缓慢地流'.

adjective
(adj.) slowunhurried

Examples

  • 缓慢，。
    Jīng jì huī fù huǎn màn, dà jiā yào yǒu nài xīn.
    The economic recovery is slow; everyone needs to be patient.
  • 缓慢。
    Tā shuō huà yǔ qì huǎn màn ér wēn hé.
    He speaks in a slow and gentle tone.
  • 缓慢。
    Hé shuǐ huǎn màn dì liú guò shān gǔ.
    The river flows slowly through the valley.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

缓huǎnslow
慢mànslow

'缓' and '慢' both mean slow, so together they emphasize slowness.

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 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.

Open 缓 →

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
忄Written in full as心xīnheart
Sound part声符shēngfú
曼
曼màn慢màn
Same sound today

慢 pairs 忄 (heart) with 曼 (màn). The heart part points to a manner or sluggish behavior, while 曼’s meaning “long, extended” adds the sense of taking a long time.

Open 慢 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5Good & Bad

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