suō

羧

Character · VerbTraditional縮

shrink; contract; withdraw; save

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

3 senses · 8 examples
1.

verb

to shrink; to contract; to reduce in size

Used for physical contraction, reduction in size, length, or scope.

Yáng羊
máo毛
shān衫
xǐ洗
hòu后
huì会
suō缩
shuǐ水
 。

Wool sweaters will shrink after washing.

Zhè这
tiáo条
lù路
suō缩
duǎn短
le了
wǒ我
men们
de的
tōng通
qín勤
shí时
jiān间
 。

This road has shortened our commute time.

Show 1 more example
Gōng公
sī司
jué决
dìng定
suō缩
jiǎn减
kāi开
zhī支
 。

The company decided to cut down on expenses.

2.

verb

to withdraw; to pull back; to retreat

Often used in military, sports, or psychological contexts.

Dí敌
rén人
suō缩
huí回
le了
bǎo堡
lěi垒
 。

The enemy retreated back to the fortress.

Kàn看
dào到
shé蛇
 ，
tā他
xià吓
de得
suō缩
chéng成
le了
yī一
tuán团
 。

When he saw the snake, he curled up into a ball in fright.

Show 1 more example
suō缩
shǒu手
suō缩
jiǎo脚

to shrink back from doing something; timid and hesitant

3.

verb

to economize; to save; to cut down on

formal

Used in financial or resource management contexts.

Wǒ我
men们
yào要
suō缩
yī衣
jié节
shí食
cái才
néng能
mǎi买
xià下
fáng房
zi子
 。

We need to tighten our belts to afford the house.

Gōng公
sī司
yāo要
qiú求
gè各
bù部
mén门
suō缩
biān编
 。

The company requested all departments to reduce staffing.