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减速 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
减速jiǎnsùto reduce speedHSK 7, unknown, 21 strokes, rank #6575, Very Hard
减速jiǎnsùto slow downHSK 7, unknown, 21 strokes, rank #6575, Very Hard
减速jiǎnsùto take it easyHSK 7, unknown, 21 strokes, rank #6575, Very Hard
jiǎnsù(jian3su4)jian su T3
  1. 1to reduce speed
  2. 2to slow down
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March 24, 2026

减速(減速)jiǎnsù(jian3su4)

减速 (jiǎn sù) means to reduce speed or to slow down. It is commonly used in contexts such as driving, sports, and general advice to take things easier. The term conveys a sense of caution and the need to decrease pace for safety or relaxation.

Strokes21Frequency#6575DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural note

In Chinese driving culture, road signs often feature the term 减速 to alert drivers to slow down in areas with high pedestrian traffic or construction zones. This reflects the importance placed on road safety in urban planning.

Memory tip

Imagine a car with a large '减' (jian) sign on the side, symbolizing a big decrease in speed. The character '速' (sù) looks like a lightning bolt, suggesting speed. Picture the car slowing down dramatically to avoid a lightning storm, reminding you that '减速' means to slow down.

Meanings of 减速

jiǎnsù(jian3su4)
1to reduce speed
2to slow down
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About 减速

减速Simplified
減速Traditional
21Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

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Podcast: 减速

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AI study notes for 减速

Quick Contrast

减速 (jiǎnsù) vs 放慢 (fàngmàn) — use 减速 when emphasizing a reduction in speed for safety, while 放慢 is more about slowing down in a general sense.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 减速 with 速度 (sùdù), which means speed itself. The term is quite neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but is most commonly used in everyday situations. Remember to use the correct tones: 'jiǎn' is third tone and 'sù' is fourth tone.

HSK Study Tips

Although 减速 is not an HSK vocabulary word, it is relevant at HSK 3-4 level for students learning verbs and phrases related to movement and action. Focus on recognizing the characters and their tones, as well as using the term in sentences about travel or personal habits.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly say '减速了' (jiǎn sù le) when they mean to say 'I need to slow down,' instead of using '我需要减速' (wǒ xū yào jiǎn sù). Make sure to use the correct sentence structure.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 减速

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Component characters

减jiǎnto lower
HSK 411 strokes冫
View full entry
速sùfast
10 strokes辶
View full entry

How to say to reduce speed in Chinese

“to reduce speed” in Chinese is减速jiǎnsù

减速 (jiǎn sù) means to reduce speed or to slow down. It is commonly used in contexts such as driving, sports, and general advice to take things easier. The term conveys a sense of caution and the need to decrease pace for safety or relaxation.

When to use 减速

Be careful not to confuse 减速 with 速度 (sùdù), which means speed itself. The term is quite neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but is most commonly used in everyday situations. Remember to use the correct tones: 'jiǎn' is third tone and 'sù' is fourth tone.

减速 or something close to it

减速 (jiǎnsù) vs 放慢 (fàngmàn) — use 减速 when emphasizing a reduction in speed for safety, while 放慢 is more about slowing down in a general sense.

What learners get wrong

Learners often mistakenly say '减速了' (jiǎn sù le) when they mean to say 'I need to slow down,' instead of using '我需要减速' (wǒ xū yào jiǎn sù). Make sure to use the correct sentence structure.

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减
速

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Frequently asked questions about 减速

You can say, '请减速行驶' (qǐng jiǎn sù xíng shǐ) which means 'Please slow down while driving.'

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