放缓 (fàng huǎn) — to slow down, to decelerate (the pace of growth, development, or speed)

Definition

Written/formal verb meaning 'to slow down' a pace, pace, or growth — used in business and policy contexts rather than everyday speech. Pairs with nouns like 速度, 节奏, 生产, 增长, signaling a deliberate easing of tempo.

verb
to slow downto decelerate (the pace of growth, development, or speed)

Examples

  • 放缓。
    Jīng jì zēng zhǎng de sù dù zhèng zài fàng huǎn.
    The pace of economic growth is slowing down.
  • ，放缓。
    Yóu yú shì chǎng xū qiú xià jiàng, gōng sī jué dìng fàng huǎn shēng chǎn.
    Due to falling market demand, the company decided to slow down production.
  • 放缓，。
    Yī shēng jiàn yì tā fàng huǎn shēng huó jié zòu, duō xiū xi.
    The doctor advised him to slow down his pace of life and rest more.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

放fànglet
缓huǎnslow

放缓 uses 放 meaning to let with 缓 meaning slow to describe making something move more slowly.

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
攵Written in full as攴pūhand, action
Sound part声符shēngfú
方
方fāng放fàng
Same sound today

放 uses 方 for its sound and 攵, a hand/action part, to mark an action of release.

Open 放 →

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 緩; 缓 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìsilk
Sound part声符shēngfú
爰
爰yuán緩huǎn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 緩 pairs 糸 (silk) with 爰, which gives the sound; the simplified 缓 is a later shorthand.

Open 缓 →

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