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减弱 (jiǎn ruò) — to weaken, to diminish

Definition

减弱 means a force, effect, or intensity fading on its own (wind dies down, drug effect wears off). Stronger/more active than 淡化 (downplaying); closer to 削弱 (impair), but 减弱 usually describes a natural or gradual decline.

verb
to weakento diminish

Examples

  • 减弱。
    Fēng shì zhú jiàn jiǎn ruò le.
    The wind gradually weakened.
  • 减弱。
    Tā de shēng yīn màn màn jiǎn ruò.
    His voice slowly weakened.
  • 减弱。
    Zhè zhǒng yào huì jiǎn ruò yào xiào.
    This medicine will weaken the drug's effect.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

减jiǎnreduce
弱ruòweak

减 reduce and 弱 weak give the result of becoming weaker.

Characters in this word

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 →

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

  • 弓弓gōngbow
  • 彡彡shānhair, meaning "decoration" in this case

弱 pairs 弓 (bow) with 彡 (hair), showing a decorative bow that is functionally inferior, or a shaking, worn-out bow.

Open 弱 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6Change & Process

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