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减轻 (jiǎn qīng) — to reduce, to alleviate (burden, pain, pressure, etc.)

Definition

Use 减轻 for reducing the weight or intensity of a burden, pain, or pressure. 减少 just means 'reduce' a quantity; 缓解 focuses on relieving pain or tension.

verb
to reduceto alleviate (burden, pain, pressure, etc.)

Examples

  • 减轻。
    Zhè zhǒng xīn fāng fǎ kě yǐ jiǎn qīng wǒ men de gōng zuò fù dān.
    This new method can lighten our work burden.
  • 减轻。
    Fàn hòu sàn bù néng jiǎn qīng wèi bù bú shì.
    Taking a walk after meals can ease stomach discomfort.
  • 减轻。
    Duō hé péng you liáo tiān yǒu shí kě yǐ jiǎn qīng xīn lǐ de fán nǎo.
    Chatting with friends more often can sometimes alleviate inner worries.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

减jiǎnreduce
轻qīnglight

减 reduce and 轻 light give the result of becoming lighter.

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 →

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 輕; 轻 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
車車jūcarriage
Sound part声符shēngfú
巠
巠jīng輕qīng
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 輕 pairs 車, a carriage, with 巠 to give the sound; it originally named a light carriage. The simplified 轻 is only a later shorthand.

Open 轻 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 4Change & Process

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