缓解 meaning in English

huǎnjiě

to bring relief; to alleviate (a crisis)

HSK 4verbTraditional 緩解25 strokes

Meaning of 缓解

Definitions from CC-CEDICT.

huǎnjiě

to bring relief
to alleviate (a crisis)
to dull (a pain)

How to use 缓解

缓解 is used with problems that can be reduced but not fully removed, such as pain, stress, traffic, tension or a shortage. It often appears in news and health contexts. Example: 喝点热水可以缓解头疼。(Hē diǎn rè shuǐ kěyǐ huǎnjiě tóuténg.) Drinking some hot water can ease a headache.

缓 (huǎn) means slow or ease off, and 解 (jiě) means to untie or loosen. When you slowly loosen a tight knot, the pressure eases, so 缓解 means to bring relief.

Common mistake: Learners often use 缓解 when they mean 解决 (jiějué), but 缓解 only makes a problem less serious, while 解决 makes it go away. Also watch the tone of 缓: it is third tone huǎn, not huán.

缓解 in example sentences

Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.

你nǐ吃chī了le这zhè药yào，胃wèi痛tòng就jiù会huì缓huǎn解jiě很hěn多duō。

After you take the medicine, your stomachache will be much relieved.

我wǒ通tōng过guò运yùn动dòng来lái缓huǎn解jiě压yā力lì。

I exercise to relieve stress.

药yào物wù缓huǎn解jiě了le他tā的de痛tòng苦kǔ。

The medicine decreased his pain.

这zhè种zhǒng药yào可kě以yǐ暂zàn时shí缓huǎn解jiě身shēn体tǐ的de疼téng痛tòng，你nǐ需xū要yào的de话huà就jiù拿ná去qù吧ba。

This kind of medicine can temporarily alleviate pain. If you need it, just take it.

他tā的de幽yōu默mò巧qiǎo妙miào地dì缓huǎn解jiě了le晚wǎn餐cān时shí尴gān尬gà的de气qì氛fēn，让ràng我wǒ松sōng了le一yì口kǒu气qì。

His humor charmingly eased the embarrassing atmosphere at dinner time and made me breathe a sigh of relief.

Stroke order for each character

Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.

缓 huǎn · slow · 12 strokes

解 jiě · to divide · 13 strokes

Related words

Words that share a character with 缓解.

理解	lǐjiě	to comprehend; to understand
解决	jiějué	to solve; to resolve; to settle (a problem); to eliminate; to wipe out (an enemy, bandits
解开	jiěkāi	to untie; to undo
了解	liǎojiě	to understand; to know about; to learn about; to find out
解释	jiěshì	explanation; to explain
解除	jiěchú	to remove; to sack
解放	jiěfàng	to liberate; to emancipate
误解	wùjiě	to misunderstand; misunderstanding
分解	fēnjiě	to resolve; to decompose
调解	tiáojiě	to mediate; to bring parties to an agreement
解说	jiěshuō	to explain (verbally); to give a running commentary
化解	huàjiě	to dissolve; to resolve (contradictions)

Questions about 缓解

What does 缓解 mean?

缓解 (huǎnjiě) means "to bring relief; to alleviate (a crisis)" and is used as a verb.

How do you write 缓解?

缓解 is made of 2 characters: 缓 (12 strokes), 解 (13 strokes). That is 25 strokes in total.

Is 缓解 an HSK word?

Yes. 缓解 is on the HSK 4 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.

How is 缓解 written in traditional Chinese?

In traditional characters, 缓解 is written 緩解.

What is the difference between 缓解 and 减轻?

Both mean to lessen something. 减轻 (jiǎnqīng) focuses on reducing weight or amount, like a burden or workload. 缓解 focuses on easing tension or pressure, like pain, stress or traffic jams.

What nouns commonly go with 缓解?

Common partners are 压力 (yālì) stress, 疼痛 (téngtòng) pain, 紧张 (jǐnzhāng) tension, 交通拥堵 (jiāotōng yōngdǔ) traffic congestion, and 矛盾 (máodùn) conflict. A typical phrase is 缓解压力 (huǎnjiě yālì), to relieve stress.