缓 (huǎn) — to postpone, to delay, to defer; to revive, to recuperate (often in 缓过来, 缓一缓)
Definition
缓 (huǎn) is a verb meaning both 'to delay/put off' (a plan, trip, decision — like 推迟 or 延期) and 'to revive/recuperate' (as in 缓过来). The delay sense is informal and covers more than deadlines, which 延期 targets.
verb
to postponeto delayto deferto reviveto recuperate (often in 缓过来, 缓一缓)
Easily confused
Examples
- 。Tā jué dìng bǎ lǚ xíng huǎn qī dào xià zhōu.He decided to postpone the trip to next week.
- ，缓。Tā xiū xi le yí huì r, cái màn màn huǎn guò lái.He rested for a while and then slowly revived.
- ，。Zhè jiàn shì bù jí, kě yǐ huǎn yi huǎn zài shuō.This matter is not urgent; we can postpone it and talk later.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost 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.
Appears in
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