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衰减 (shuāi jiǎn) — to weaken, to attenuate; to decline in intensity or strength

Definition

衰减 is mainly technical — the gradual loss of intensity in signals, energy, or physical strength. Unlike 削弱 (which is 'weaken' from deliberate action), 衰减 describes natural, often measurable decline.

verb
to weakento attenuateto decline in intensity or strength

Examples

  • ，衰减。
    Suí zhe jù lí zēng jiā, xìn hào huì zhú jiàn shuāi jiǎn.
    As the distance increases, the signal will gradually attenuate.
  • 衰减。
    Jīng jì shuāi tuì de jì xiàng yǐ jīng kāi shǐ shuāi jiǎn.
    The signs of economic recession have already begun to weaken.
  • ，衰减。
    Suí zhe nián líng zēng zhǎng, tā de tǐ lì míng xiǎn shuāi jiǎn le.
    As he ages, his physical strength has noticeably declined.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

衰shuāidecline
减jiǎndecrease

衰 and 减 both express weakening or reduction, so together they mean to attenuate.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The old form of 衰 pictures a palm-fiber raincoat, a garment later written with another character.

Open 衰 →

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
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