收敛 (shōu liǎn) — to restrain, to curb (one's emotions, behavior); (mathematics) to converge; to dwindle, to vanish (less common)

Definition

Two main senses: (1) to restrain/curb emotions or behavior (e.g. 收敛情绪); (2) the math term for a sequence or series converging. Less commonly, something gradually vanishing. Distinct from 汇合/汇聚 (things flowing together).

verb
to restrainto curb (one's emotions, behavior)(mathematics) to convergeto dwindleto vanish (less common)

Examples

  • ，收敛。
    Zài zhèng shì chǎng hé, tā xué huì le shōu liǎn zì jǐ de qíng xù.
    In formal occasions, he learned to restrain his emotions.
  • 收敛。
    Zhè ge shù liè shōu liǎn yú yí gè cháng shù.
    This sequence converges to a constant.
  • 收敛。
    Tā de nù qì màn màn shōu liǎn le.
    His anger gradually dwindled.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

收shōugather
敛liǎngather

收 and 敛 both denote gathering or restraint, giving the sense of drawing back or curbing behavior.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
攴攴pū
Sound part声符shēngfú
丩
丩jiū收shōu
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

收 uses 攴 to show an action and 丩 as a sound clue; the old meaning was 'to arrest.'

Open 收 →

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 斂; 敛 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
攴攴pū
Sound part声符shēngfú
僉
僉qiān斂
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 斂 is built from 攴, a part tied to the meaning, and 僉, a part giving the sound; the simplified 敛 is a later shorthand, so its parts are not the original pieces.

Open 敛 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9MathPersonality & Traits

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