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缓解 (huǎn jiě) — to alleviate, to relieve (pain, stress, a crisis)

Definition

缓解 focuses on easing tension, pain, or a difficult situation — often temporary relief rather than real reduction. Distinct from 减轻, which means to lower or reduce a quantity, weight, or burden.

verb
to alleviateto relieve (pain, stress, a crisis)

Examples

  • 缓解。
    Zhè zhǒng yào néng huǎn jiě tóu tòng.
    This medicine can relieve headaches.
  • 缓解。
    Zhèng fǔ zhèng zài nǔ lì huǎn jiě jīng jì wèn tí.
    The government is working hard to alleviate economic problems.
  • 缓解。
    Liáo tiān kě yǐ huǎn jiě jǐn zhāng qíng xù.
    Chatting can relieve nervous feelings.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

缓huǎnloosen
解jiěrelease

'缓' (loosen) and '解' (release) both ease tension, so the word means to relieve.

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.

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 →

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

解 shows 刀 (knife) separating 角 (horn) from 牛 (cow), giving the picture of cutting up an ox.

Open 解 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 5HSK 2.0 Level 5Medicine & Treatment

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