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减 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
Hanzi
Pinyin
English
Tags
减
jiǎn
to lower
HSK 4, v, 11 strokes, radical 冫, rank #4976, Medium
减
jiǎn
to decrease
HSK 4, v, 11 strokes, radical 冫, rank #4976, Medium
减
jiǎn
to reduce
HSK 4, v, 11 strokes, radical 冫, rank #4976, Medium
减
jiǎn
to subtract
HSK 4, v, 11 strokes, radical 冫, rank #4976, Medium
减
jiǎn
to diminish
HSK 4, v, 11 strokes, radical 冫, rank #4976, Medium
jiǎn(jian3)jian T3
1to lower
2to decrease
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March 24, 2026
减(減)jiǎn(jian3)
The character 减 (jiǎn) means to lower, decrease, or reduce something. It is commonly used in contexts such as mathematics for subtraction, or in everyday language to indicate a reduction in quantity, quality, or intensity.
Strokes11Radical冫Frequency#4976DifficultyMedium
Cultural note
In Chinese culture, the concept of reducing or cutting back is often tied to traditional practices such as frugality and resource conservation, which are highly valued. For instance, during Chinese New Year, people might say they want to '减掉' (jiǎn diào) bad habits from the previous year.
Memory tip
Imagine a weightlifter named Jian who is always trying to reduce the weight he lifts. The character 减 resembles a person lifting a barbell, with the top part looking like the bar and the bottom part like the person bending down to lift less weight.
Meanings of 减
jiǎn(jian3)
1to lower
2to decrease
Exercise 1 of 2
By ear
Play it, then pick what 减 means.
About 减
减Simplified
減Traditional
11Strokes
冫Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#4976Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L4IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1
Podcast: 减
Podcast: 减
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AI study notes for 减
Quick Contrast
减 (jiǎn) vs 降 (jiàng) — use 减 for a decrease in quantity or value, while 降 is more about a drop in level or altitude.
Usage Notes
Be cautious not to confuse 减 with 增 (zēng), which means to increase. This character is often used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in discussions about prices or quantities. Remember that 减 is typically used with numbers or nouns to express reduction.
HSK Study Tips
Though not officially assigned to a specific HSK level, 减 can be related to vocabulary typically found in HSK 2 or 3, as students learn basic arithmetic and simple expressions of reduction. Focus on practicing its use in sentences to express lowering quantities.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mispronounce 减 as 'jiàn' instead of 'jiǎn'. Another common mistake is using it incorrectly in phrases, such as saying '减更多' (jiǎn gèng duō) which should be '减少' (jiǎn shǎo) for 'reduce more'.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 减
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Example
Learning Lab
Knowing 减 is seven skills, not one.
Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
减 = 冫 + 咸. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 减
IDS Structure⿰冫咸
减Full character
=
冫bing1
left
咸Xian2
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Parts
Which of these is part of 减?
How to say to lower in Chinese
“to lower” in Chinese is减jiǎn
The character 减 (jiǎn) means to lower, decrease, or reduce something. It is commonly used in contexts such as mathematics for subtraction, or in everyday language to indicate a reduction in quantity, quality, or intensity.
When to use 减
Be cautious not to confuse 减 with 增 (zēng), which means to increase. This character is often used in both formal and informal contexts, especially in discussions about prices or quantities. Remember that 减 is typically used with numbers or nouns to express reduction.
减 or something close to it
减 (jiǎn) vs 降 (jiàng) — use 减 for a decrease in quantity or value, while 降 is more about a drop in level or altitude.
What learners get wrong
Learners often mispronounce 减 as 'jiàn' instead of 'jiǎn'. Another common mistake is using it incorrectly in phrases, such as saying '减更多' (jiǎn gèng duō) which should be '减少' (jiǎn shǎo) for 'reduce more'.
Write 减
减
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Practice writing 减 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar patterns of 减
减 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 5 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.
To cope with the economic crisis, the company had to lower its operating costs.
vto decrease2
13
为了健康，他决定每天减少喝咖啡的次数。
Wèi le jiànkāng, tā juédìng měitiān jiǎnshǎo hē kāfēi de cìshù.
For his health, he decided to decrease the number of times he drinks coffee each day.
14
公司计划明年减少员工的加班时间。
Gōngsī jìhuà míngnián jiǎnshǎo yuángōng de jiābān shíjiān.
The company plans to decrease the overtime hours for employees next year.
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Cultural Notes for 减
💡Did you know?
'减' has a visual connection to ice ('冰') in its etymology. The character suggests a process of something becoming less, much like how ice diminishes as it melts.
📜Proverb
In Chinese culture, there's a saying: '减法生活' (Life of subtraction). It highlights the idea that sometimes less is more, encouraging simplicity and minimalism.
Word Family of 减
Words containing this character20
减少jiǎnshǎoto lessen減少
减jiǎnto lower減
减肥jiǎnféito lose weight減肥
减轻jiǎnqīngto lighten減輕
减速jiǎnsùto reduce speed減速
减弱jiǎnruòto weaken減弱
削减xuējiǎnto cut down削減
减压jiǎnyāto relax減壓
减缓jiǎnhuǎnto slow down減緩
减慢jiǎnmànto slow down減慢
缩减suōjiǎnto cut縮減
减掉jiǎndiàoto subtract減掉
减去jiǎnqùminus減去
减价jiǎnjiàto cut prices減價
减免jiǎnmiǎnto reduce or waive (taxes, punishment, rent, tuition etc)減免
减小jiǎnxiǎoto reduce減小
减刑jiǎnxíngto reduce penalty減刑
减退jiǎntuìto ebb減退
减半jiǎnbànto reduce by half減半
减低jiǎndīto lower減低
Exercise 1 of 4
Words with 减
What does 减少 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 减
Yes, 减 is frequently used in everyday conversation, especially when discussing topics related to health, finances, or general reductions. For example, people might say '减价' (jiǎn jià) to refer to a price reduction during sales.
Some synonyms for 减 include 降低 (jiàng dī), which means to lower or diminish, and 减少 (jiǎn shǎo), meaning to decrease or reduce. These words can often be used interchangeably depending on the context.
减 (jiǎn) means to lower, decrease, reduce, subtract, or diminish. It is commonly used in mathematical contexts as well as in everyday language when discussing reductions or declines in various situations.
You can use 减 to describe an action of reducing something, such as '我想减肥' (wǒ xiǎng jiǎn féi), which means 'I want to lose weight.' It can also be used in math, for example, '十减五等于五' (shí jiǎn wǔ děngyú wǔ), meaning 'Ten minus five equals five.'
You can say '我想减肥' (Wǒ xiǎng jiǎn féi), which means 'I want to lose weight'.
Yes, while it generally means to reduce, in mathematics it specifically refers to subtraction.
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