TongTong
Sign in

缩减 (suō jiǎn) — to cut down, to reduce (size, quantity, or expenses)

Definition

缩减 (suōjiǎn) is a formal verb for reducing size, quantity, or expenses — especially budgets and spending. Stronger and more official than 减少; pairs naturally with 开支 and 开支. Negate with 不, not 没有.

verb
to cut downto reduce (size, quantity, or expenses)

Examples

  • 缩减。
    Zhèng fǔ jué dìng suō jiǎn wài jiāo kāi zhī.
    The government decided to cut diplomatic spending.
  • 缩减。
    Zhè jiā gōng chǎng tōng guò suō jiǎn yuán liào yòng liàng lái jié yuē chéng běn.
    This factory saves costs by reducing the amount of raw materials used.
  • 缩减。
    Cái yuán bìng bú shì suō jiǎn kāi zhī de wéi yī bàn fǎ.
    Layoffs are not the only way to cut expenses.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

缩suōshrink
减jiǎnreduce

缩 means shrink, and 减 means reduce, so the idea is cutting something down.

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 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 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 減; 减 is its simplified writing.

The traditional form 減 has 氵, water, and 咸, a seal: sealing off a stream of water lessens its flow. The simplified 减 is a later abbreviation.

Open 减 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Change & Process

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.