减 jiǎn decrease
decrease; to subtract; to reduce
How to remember 减: 冫 ice + 咸 salty = decrease. The doctor tells Grandpa to put more ice in his drinks and fewer salty snacks on his plate, so his blood pressure will decrease.
Component breakdown
减 = 冫 ice + 咸 salty
- 冫 ice
- 咸 salty
- 戊 fifth
- 𠮛 piled up
The doctor tells Grandpa to put more ice in his drinks and fewer salty snacks on his plate, so his blood pressure will decrease.
How it is used
- 'Reduce, subtract, lessen' - the math 'minus' (5减2 wǔ jiǎn èr, 5 minus 2) and everyday cutting down.
- 减少 (jiǎnshǎo) reduce quantity vs 减轻 (jiǎnqīng) lighten a burden/weight vs 减肥 (jiǎnféi) lose weight (lit. reduce fat).
- Opposite of 加 (jiā, add): the pair 加减 is 'add and subtract' - 一加一等于二 (yī jiā yī děngyú èr) one plus one is two.
Words with 减
- 减少jiǎnshǎoreduceHSK 4
- 减轻jiǎnqīngto lightenHSK 4
- 减肥jiǎnféigo on a dietHSK 5
- 减压jiǎnyāto reduce pressureHSK 6
- 减弱jiǎnruòto weakenHSK 6
- 减免jiǎnmiǎnto reduce or waiveHSK 7
- 减负jiǎnfùto alleviate a burden on somebodyHSK 7
- 减退jiǎntuìto ebbHSK 8
- 削减xuējiǎnto cut downHSK 8
- 缩减suōjiǎnto cutHSK 9
- 衰减shuāijiǎnto weakenHSK 9
Example sentences
- 这个月的生活开支减少了。 Zhège yuè de shēnghuó kāizhī jiǎnshǎo le.Living expenses for this month have decreased.
- 你用什么方法减肥？ Nǐ yòng shénme fāngfǎ jiǎnféi?What method are you using to lose weight?
- 运动减肥的效果很好。 Yùndòng jiǎnféi de xiàoguǒ hěn hǎo.Doing exercise is an effective way to lose weight.