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减少

jiǎnshǎo

decrease; reduce

Usage note

减少用于表达数量或频率的降低。例如,我们可以减少用水量来节约水资源。

jiǎnshǎo yòng yù bǐng biàn liàng huò pín lǜ de jiàng kě. rúkǒu, wǒmen kěyǐ jiǎnshǎo shuǐyòng liàng lái jiàotiáo suízīyuán.

减少 is used to express a decrease in quantity or frequency. For example, we can reduce water usage to save resources.

Context note

减少常见于日常生活中,如节约用水、用电等。

jiǎnshǎo cháng jiàn yú rì cháng shēng huó zhōng, rú jiàotiáo shuǐyòng, diàn yòng děng.

减少 is commonly found in daily life contexts such as saving water and electricity.

5 examples

我们每天可以减少用水量。
wǒ men měi tiān kě yǐ jiǎn shǎo yòng shuǐ liàng。
We can reduce our daily water usage.
为了环保,我们应该减少开车。
wèi le huán bǎo, wǒ men yīng gāi jiǎn shǎo kāi chē。
To protect the environment, we should reduce driving.
他决定减少看电视的时间。
tā jué dìng jiǎn shǎo kàn diàn shì de shí jiān。
He decided to reduce his TV watching time.
我们可以通过减少浪费来节约资源。
wǒ men kě yǐ tōng guò jiǎn shǎo làng fèi lái jié yuē zī yuán。
We can save resources by reducing waste.
为了健康,他减少了吃糖的数量。
wèi le jiàn kāng, tā jiǎn shǎo le chī táng de shù liàng。
For health reasons, he reduced his sugar intake.

5 mini stories

小明决定减少用水量来节约水资源。妈妈很高兴。
xiǎo míng jué dìng jiǎn shǎo yòng shuǐ liàng lái jié yuē shuǐ zī yuán。 mā ma hěn gāo xìng。
Xiaoming decided to reduce water usage to save resources. Mom was very happy.
爸爸建议我们减少开车,多骑自行车。
bà ba jiàn yì wǒ men jiǎn shǎo kāi chē, duō qí zì xíng chē。
Dad suggested we reduce driving and ride bicycles more often.
小红每天都会减少看电视的时间来学习更多知识。
xiǎo hóng měi tiān dōu huì jiǎn shǎo kàn diàn shì de shí jiān lái xué xí gèng duō zhī shi。
Xiaohong would reduce her TV watching time every day to learn more knowledge.
为了环保,我们全家决定减少开车去购物的次数。
wèi le huán bǎo, wǒ men quán jiā jué dìng jiǎn shǎo kāi chē qù gòu wù de cì shù。
To protect the environment, our whole family decided to reduce driving for shopping.
他通过减少吃糖来保持健康的生活方式。
tā tōng guò jiǎn shǎo chī táng lái bǎo chí jiàn kāng de shēng huó fāng shì。
He kept a healthy lifestyle by reducing his sugar intake.

Mini dialogue

减少垃圾

A
我们应该减少使用塑料袋。
Wǒmen yīnggāi jiǎnshǎo shǐyòng sùliào dài.
We should reduce the use of plastic bags.
B
对,用布袋更环保。
Duì, yòng bùdài gèng huánbǎo.
Right, using cloth bags is more eco-friendly.

减少零食

A
妈妈让我减少吃零食。
Māma ràng wǒ jiǎnshǎo chī língshí.
Mom told me to reduce eating snacks.
B
多吃水果对身体好。
Duō chī shuǐguǒ duì shēntǐ hǎo.
Eating more fruit is good for your health.

Related words and contrasts

opposite
增加
zēngjiā
to increase; to add

The direct opposite, meaning to make something more.

similar
降低
jiàngdī
to lower; to bring down

Often used for levels or standards, similar to reducing.

Explore more words