骤降 (zhòu jiàng) — to drop sharply, to plummet (of temperature, pr…

Definition

A vivid, journalistic verb for a sudden steep drop in temperature, prices, or numbers. Pairs with 度、至 + figure (e.g. 骤降至零下十度).

verb

to drop sharplyto plummet (of temperature, prices, speed, etc.)to fall suddenly (in measurable quantity)

，骤降。
Shòu hán liú yǐng xiǎng, qì wēn zhòu jiàng le shí jǐ dù.
Affected by a cold snap, the temperature dropped sharply by over ten degrees.
骤降，。
Gǔ shì kāi pán hòu zhǐ shù zhòu jiàng, tóu zī zhě fēn fēn pāo shòu.
After the stock market opened, the index plummeted and investors sold off in droves.
，骤降，。
Bào fēng xuě guò hòu, qì wēn zhòu jiàng, lù miàn hěn kuài jié bīng.
After the blizzard, the temperature plummeted and the roads quickly became icy.

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.

骤 gives suddenness and 降 gives falling, together describing a sharp drop.

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 驟; 骤 is its simplified writing.

馬聚驟

Meaning part形符xíngfú

馬馬mǎhorse

Sound part声符shēngfú

聚

聚jù驟zhòu

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

The traditional form 驟 uses 馬 to show the idea of a horse and 聚 for its sound; the simplified 骤 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.

阝夅降

Meaning part形符xíngfú

阝Written in full as阜fùhill, wall

Sound part声符shēngfú

夅

夅jiàng降xiáng

Same sound today

降 pairs 阝 (a hill or wall, written in full as 阜) with 夅, a sound part meaning 'to descend'; together they picture descending a hill.