减少 jiǎnshǎo reduce
reduce; to decrease
How to remember 减少: 减 decrease + 少 few = reduce.
Characters
How it is used
- To reduce / decrease (a quantity) - 减少浪费 (jiǎnshǎo làngfèi) cut down on waste; 人数减少了 the number dropped.
- 减 (subtract) + 少 (few); transitive and intransitive, about lowering an amount.
- Opposite 增加 (zēngjiā) 'increase'. Contrast 降低 (jiàngdī) 'lower (a level/rate/price)'; 减少 is about count/quantity going down - 人口增加 (rénkǒu zēngjiā) the population grows.
Example sentences
- 米的产量减少了。 Mǐ de chǎnliàng jiǎnshǎo le.Production of rice has decreased.
- 最近我的体重减少了。 Zuìjìn wǒ de tǐzhòng jiǎnshǎo le.I've lost weight recently.
- 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.