to withdraw, to shrink, to pull back; abbreviation
x, 17 strokes, radical 糹, rank #79935, Very Hard
suō(suo1) T1
1to withdraw, to shrink, to pull back; abbreviation
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March 24, 2026
縮suō(suo1)
The character 縮 (suō) primarily means to withdraw or shrink, often used in contexts related to physical dimensions or emotional states. It can also refer to an abbreviation, where something is made shorter or more concise. Commonly, it is used in expressions about reducing size or pulling something back.
Strokes17Radical糹Frequency#79935DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of shrinking or reducing can also be tied to minimalism, which is becoming increasingly popular in urban living spaces. This reflects a practical approach to living efficiently.
Memory Tip
Imagine a spring (the radical) being compressed, making it shorter (縮). The 's' sound in 'suō' can remind you of 'squashing' something down, like a balloon losing air and shrinking in size.
Meanings of 縮
suō(suo1)
1to withdraw, to shrink, to pull back; abbreviation
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 縮
縮Simplified
17Strokes
糹Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 縮
Podcast: 縮
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AI Study Notes for 縮
Quick Contrast
缩 (suō) vs 减 (jiǎn) — use 缩 when referring specifically to physical withdrawal or shrinking, while 减 is for reducing quantity or amount.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a spring (the radical) being compressed, making it shorter (縮). The 's' sound in 'suō' can remind you of 'squashing' something down, like a balloon losing air and shrinking in size.
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the tone; 縮 is pronounced with a first tone (suō). A common mistake is to confuse it with the similar-sounding word 'suo' (锁), which means 'lock'. In formal contexts, use 縮 when discussing technical or scientific reductions.
HSK Study Tips
While 縮 is not included in HSK levels, it relates to HSK vocabulary involving size and dimension. Students should focus on its applications in context, such as in phrases like 縮小 (to reduce) and 縮短 (to shorten).
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of shrinking or reducing can also be tied to minimalism, which is becoming increasingly popular in urban living spaces. This reflects a practical approach to living efficiently.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 縮 (suō) with 缩小 (suōxiǎo), mistakenly using them interchangeably. Remember that 縮 refers to the action of shrinking, while 缩小 specifically means to reduce size.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 縮
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Cultural Notes for 縮
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, the concept of shrinking or reducing can also be tied to minimalism, which is becoming increasingly popular in urban living spaces. This reflects a practical approach to living efficiently.
Word Family of 縮
Words Containing This Character20
缩小suōxiǎoto reduce縮小
缩suōto withdraw縮
收缩shōusuōto pull back收縮
缩短suōduǎnto curtail縮短
退缩tuìsuōto cower退縮
萎缩wěisuōto wither萎縮
压缩yāsuōto compress壓縮
浓缩nóngsuōconcentration濃縮
缩写abbreviation縮寫
缩减to cut縮減
缩水suōshuǐto shrink (in the wash)縮水
紧缩jǐnsuōto curtail緊縮
蜷缩to curl up蜷縮
缩影suōyǐngmicrocosm縮影
压缩机compactor壓縮機
畏缩wèisuōto cower畏縮
伸缩shēnsuōflexible伸縮
浓缩铀enriched uranium濃縮鈾
通货紧缩deflation通貨緊縮
缩手缩脚bound hand and foot (idiom); constrained縮手縮腳
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 缩小 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 縮
You can say '这个图案需要缩小' (Zhège tú'àn xūyào suōxiǎo), which means 'This pattern needs to be reduced.'
No, 縮 can also refer to abstract concepts like emotions or ideas being minimized or pulled back.
Common phrases include 縮小 (to reduce) and 縮短 (to shorten).
