缩 (suō) — to shrink, to contract (in size or volume); to withdraw, to pull back (a body part or movement)
Definition
单-character verb. Used for physical shrinking (clothes, objects) and pulling back a body part (hand, head). For reductions in size or scope more broadly, use 缩小 or 收缩.
verb
to shrinkto contract (in size or volume)to withdrawto pull back (a body part or movement)
Examples
- 缩。Zhè jiàn máo yī xǐ hòu huì suō.This sweater will shrink after washing.
- 。Tā gǎn jǐn suō huí le shǒu.He quickly withdrew his hand.
- 缩。Xiǎo māo lěng dé suō chéng yì tuán.The kitten curled up from the cold.
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 縮; 缩 is its simplified writing.
Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìstring, thread
Sound part声符shēngfú
宿
宿sù縮suō
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
The traditional form 縮 pairs 糸 (string, thread) with 宿, which gives the sound; the simplified 缩 is a shorthand.
Appears in
Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.