About
The character "减" originated from its traditional form "減", which is composed of the water radical (氵) on the left and the component "咸" on the right, the latter providing both phonetic value and a semantic hint of "all" or "together", suggesting a collective or complete lessening. Its earliest core meaning was specifically linked to a decrease in water volume or level, a concept that naturally extended to the broader and more abstract sense of reduction or subtraction in quantity, intensity, or degree. Over time, its application expanded beyond the physical realm to encompass ideas like diminishing strength, lowering costs, or weakening influence. The structural evolution to the contemporary simplified form "减" involved a modification of the water radical to the two-dot form "冫" (often associated with ice or cold), a common graphical streamlining of the liquid radical, while the right-hand component "咸" was retained, preserving the character's essential phonetic and conceptual identity.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
五减二等于三。
我要减少糖的摄入。
他每天运动以减肥。
司机在弯道减速。
公司计划削减开支。
学习如何减轻压力很重要。
政府致力于减少碳排放。
通过优化流程，生产效率得到了显著减少。