缓和 huǎnhé to ease (tension)
to ease (tension); to alleviate; to moderate; to allay; to make more mild
How to remember 缓和: 缓 slow + 和 and = to ease (tension).
Characters
How it is used
- To ease/relax tension - 缓和紧张局势 (huǎnhé jǐnzhāng júshì) to defuse a tense situation; 关系缓和 (guānxi huǎnhé) relations warm up.
- About softening conflict, pressure, or a mood, vs 解决 (jiějué, to fully solve); it lessens intensity without necessarily resolving.
- Common in diplomacy, medical, and interpersonal contexts.
Example sentences
- 他的笑话缓和了紧张的气氛。 Tāde xiàohuà huǎnhé le jǐnzhāng de qìfēn.His jokes eased the tense atmosphere.