Learn Chinese Characters

Meaning

to withdraw; to pull back; to contract; to shrink; to reduce

Chinese: 收缩、缩小;也表示退缩。

Hear the Four Tones

The same syllable “suo” becomes a different word in each tone. 缩 is the 1st tone. Tap any tone to hear a native voice and see its pitch shape.

Stroke Order

Tap Animate to watch the strokes in order, or Practice to trace it yourself.

Common Words

  • 缩小suō xiǎoto reduce; to decrease; to shrink
  • 缩短suō duǎnto shorten; to reduce; to curtail
  • 收缩shōu suōto pull back; to shrink; to contract; (physiology) systole
  • 压缩yā suōto compress; compression
  • 浓缩nóng suōto concentrate; to condense; (nuclear energy) to enrich; espresso coffee

Example Sentence

这件毛衣洗完以后缩水了。Zhè jiàn máo yī xǐ wán yǐ hòu suō shuǐ le.This sweater shrank after washing.

Zhèthisjiànitem毛衣máo yī(wool) sweaterto washwánto finish以后yǐ hòuafter缩水suō shuǐto shrink (in the wash)le(completed action)