wěisuō

萎缩

HSK 7-9Word · VerbTraditional萎縮

wither; atrophy; shrink; (economic) recession

Tone colorsmāmámǎmàma

Meanings

2 senses · 6 examples
1.

verb

to wither; to shrivel; (of body parts) to atrophy

neutral

Describes plants drying up or body tissues/organs losing function and decreasing in size due to disease or lack of use.

Zhè这
pén盆
huā花
yīn因
wèi为
quē缺
shuǐ水
 ，
yè叶
zi子
dōu都
wěi萎
suō缩
le了
 。

Due to lack of water, the leaves of this potted plant have all withered.

Yóu由
yú于
cháng长
qī期
wò卧
chuáng床
 ，
tā他
de的
tuǐ腿
bù部
jī肌
ròu肉
yǒu有
xiē些
wěi萎
suō缩
 。

Due to long-term bed rest, the muscles in his legs have atrophied somewhat.

Show 1 more example
Zhè这
gè个
qì器
guān官
wěi萎
suō缩
hòu后
 ，
gōng功
néng能
jī基
běn本
sàng丧
shī失
le了
 。

After this organ atrophied, its function was basically lost.

2.

verb

to shrink; to contract; (of economy) to decline; to go into recession

formal

Used primarily in economic contexts to describe contraction, decline, or recession.

Guò过
qù去
yī一
nián年
 ，
quán全
qiú球
shì市
chǎng场
xū需
qiú求
wěi萎
suō缩
le了
bǎi百
fēn分
zhī之
wǔ五
 。

Over the past year, global market demand has shrunk by five percent.

Jīng经
jì济
wěi萎
suō缩
dǎo导
zhì致
shī失
yè业
lǜ率
shàng上
shēng升
 。

Economic recession has led to a rise in unemployment.

Show 1 more example
Gāi该
háng行
yè业
zhèng正
miàn面
lín临
yán严
zhòng重
wěi萎
suō缩
 。

This industry is facing a severe contraction.