suō

桫

Character · VerbTraditional縮

contract; shrink; shorten; flinch

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

3 senses · 8 examples
1.

verb

to contract; to shrink; to reduce in size or length

Used for physical objects, materials, or abstract concepts like budgets. Common in technical and daily contexts.

Zhè这
jiàn件
máo毛
yī衣
xǐ洗
hòu后
huì会
suō缩
shuǐ水
 。

This sweater will shrink after washing.

Wǒ我
men们
xū需
yào要
suō缩
duǎn短
huì会
yì议
shí时
jiān间
 。

We need to shorten the meeting time.

Show 1 more example
Rè热
zhàng胀
lěng冷
suō缩
shì是
wù物
lǐ理
cháng常
shí识
 。

Thermal expansion and contraction is common physics knowledge.

2.

verb

to shrink back; to flinch; to cower

Describes a physical or psychological retreat due to fear, cold, or hesitation. Often used metaphorically.

Kàn看
dào到
nà那
tiáo条
shé蛇
 ，
tā他
xià吓
de得
wǎng往
hòu后
yī一
suō缩
 。

Seeing that snake, he shrank back in fright.

Yù遇
dào到
kùn困
nan难
bù不
néng能
tuì退
suō缩
 。

One must not shrink back when facing difficulties.

Show 1 more example
Tā他
lěng冷
de得
suō缩
chéng成
yī一
tuán团
 。

He was so cold that he huddled up into a ball.

3.

verb

to economize; to cut down on (expenses)

neutral

Used in fixed expressions related to saving money or resources. Less common as a standalone verb in modern usage.

Tā他
měi每
tiān天
shěng省
chī吃
jiǎn俭
yòng用
 。

He saves on food and expenses every day.

Gōng公
sī司
jué决
dìng定
jǐn紧
suō缩
kāi开
zhī支
 。

The company decided to cut down on expenses.