收缩 shōusuō to pull back
to pull back; to shrink; to contract; (physiology) systole
How to remember 收缩: 收 receive + 缩 to withdraw = to pull back.
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How it is used
- To contract or shrink, physically or in scale - 肌肉收缩 (jīròu shōusuō) the muscle contracts; 收缩开支 (shōusuō kāizhī) cut back spending.
- Contrast 扩张 (kuòzhāng, expand). Covers both physical shrinking and pulling back / retrenching.