缩

縮

suō

宿 + 纟

HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

suō (verb) to shrink; to contract

suō (verb) to reduce; to decrease

suō (noun) abbreviation

Etymology phono-semantic

thread

Semantic: 纟 Phonetic: 宿

About

缩 primarily functions as a verb meaning to shrink, contract, or withdraw. Its traditional form, 縮, features the silk radical 糹 on the left, indicating a semantic connection to textiles. The right component, 宿, serves as the phonetic element, providing the pronunciation "suo" while also carrying the independent meaning of lodging. The link to silk arises from the behavior of fabrics that tighten or draw together when wet. Over time, this literal sense of contraction broadened to encompass any reduction in size, volume, or length, as well as the figurative act of retreating or recoiling in fear.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这个气球慢慢缩小了。

Zhè ge qìqiú mànman suōxiǎo le.

This balloon slowly shrank.

他缩短了会议时间。

Tā suōduǎn le huìyì shíjiān.

He shortened the meeting time.

肌肉在寒冷时收缩。

Jīròu zài hánlěng shí shōusuō.

Muscles contract in the cold.

他面对困难不退缩。

Tā miànduì kùnnán bù tuìsuō.

He does not shrink back from difficulties.

我们需要压缩文件大小。

Wǒmen xūyào yāsuō wénjiàn dàxiǎo.

We need to compress the file size.

经济衰退导致市场需求萎缩。

Jīngjì shuāituì dǎozhì shìchǎng xūqiú wěisuō.

The economic recession caused market demand to shrink.

由于温度下降，金属管道略微收缩了。

Yóuyú wēndù xiàjiàng, jīnshǔ guǎndào lüèwēi shōusuō le.

Due to the temperature drop, the metal pipe contracted slightly.

在压力下，他不仅没有退缩，反而缩短了完成项目的时间。

Zài yālì xià, tā bùjǐn méiyǒu tuìsuō, fǎn'ér suōduǎn le wánchéng xiàngmù de shíjiān.

Under pressure, he not only did not shrink back, but instead shortened the time to complete the project.

Related Characters

Component: 宿

Component: 纟

缩