减少

Etymology & Components

The Chinese word 减少 (jiǎnshǎo) is composed of two characters: 减 (jiǎn) and 少 (shǎo). The character 减 originally meant "to cut off" or "to remove", and it is often used in the sense of "to reduce" or "to decrease". The character 少 originally meant "few" or "small", and it is often used in the sense of "less" or "not enough". When these two characters are combined, they form the word 减少, which means "to reduce" or "to decrease".The word 减少 can be used in a variety of contexts. For example, it can be used to describe the reduction of prices, the decrease in population, or the loss of weight. It can also be used in a more abstract sense, such as to describe the reduction of stress or the decrease in anxiety.The word 减少 is a common word in Chinese, and it is used in both spoken and written language. It is an important word to know for HSK learners, as it is used in a variety of contexts and can be a useful way to express the idea of "to reduce" or "to decrease".