Meaning of 减少
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- to lessen; to decrease; to reduce; to lower
How to use 减少
减少 is a common verb for reducing amounts, numbers, or problems, and it often takes an object directly. It also works as a result, as in 人数减少了 (the number of people went down). Example: 我们要减少浪费。(Wǒmen yào jiǎnshǎo làngfèi.) We need to reduce waste.
减 (jiǎn) means to subtract, and 少 (shǎo) means few or little. Put them together and you get "subtract until there is less," which is exactly what 减少 means.
Common mistake: Learners often read 少 here as shào, as in 少年 (shàonián), but in 减少 it is always third tone shǎo. Also, 减 has the two-dot water-like radical 冫 on the left, not three dots 氵, so do not write it with an extra dot.
减少 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
减 jiǎn · to lower · 11 strokes
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- 2
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- 4
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少 shǎo · few · 4 strokes
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- 4
Related words
Words that share a character with 减少.
| 多少 | duōshao | number; amount; somewhat |
| 不少 | bù shǎo | many; quite a few; a good number of |
| 少年 | shàonián | early youth; youngster |
| 青少年 | qīng-shàonián | adolescent; youth |
| 少数 | shǎoshù | small number; few |
| 至少 | zhìshǎo | at least; (to say the) least |
| 缺少 | quēshǎo | lack; shortage of |
| 减肥 | jiǎnféi | to lose weight |
| 减轻 | jiǎnqīng | to lighten; to ease |
| 少儿 | shào'ér | child |
| 少女 | shàonǚ | girl; young lady |
| 减速 | jiǎnsù | to reduce speed; to slow down |
Questions about 减少
What does 减少 mean?
减少 (jiǎnshǎo) means "to lessen; to decrease; to reduce; to lower" and is used as a verb.
How do you write 减少?
减少 is made of 2 characters: 减 (11 strokes), 少 (4 strokes). That is 15 strokes in total.
Is 减少 an HSK word?
Yes. 减少 is on the HSK 4 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 减少 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 减少 is written 減少.
What is the difference between 减少 and 降低?
减少 is mainly about quantity or number, like people, waste, or costs. 降低 (jiàngdī) is about level or degree, like price, temperature, or standards. You 减少人数 but 降低温度.
What is the opposite of 减少?
The usual opposite is 增加 (zēngjiā), to increase. For example, 收入增加了 means income went up, while 收入减少了 means income went down.