gan2 suk1緊縮紧缩
Jyutpinggan2 suk1
Yalegán sūk
Definition
To reduce, shrink, or cut down in size, quantity, or scale.
neutralworkmoney
How it's used
This term is primarily used in formal or professional contexts, such as discussing business operations, government budgets, or economic policies. It carries a sense of necessity or forced reduction rather than a casual choice. While it can apply to general shrinking, it is most frequently paired with abstract concepts like budgets or resources.
Examples
The company decided to cut expenses and won't be hiring.
The economy is bad, are you guys planning to downsize?
Related words
Common mistake
Do not confuse this with 縮細, which is a more general and colloquial way to describe something becoming physically smaller in size. Using 緊縮 for a physical object like a shirt that shrunk in the wash would sound unnatural and overly formal.
Grammar color guide
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Classifier
Particle
Connector
Grammar guides
- Directional complementsThe small words added after a verb to show direction of movement, like up, down, out, in, and back. Common in everyday Cantonese.
- DemonstrativesThis and that with 呢 and 嗰, the personal pronouns, and how 哋 turns I, you, and he into we, you all, and they.
- Resultative complementsSticking a result word onto a verb to show how it turned out, like eat until full or look and find. A productive everyday pattern.
