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A1 verb 9 min de lectura

缩水

suō shuǐ

Practícalo Ejemplos Notas y consejos 缩水 en 30 segundos

Explicación 缩水 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you only need to know 缩水 in its most literal sense: clothes getting smaller after you wash them. This is a very useful word when you are doing laundry or shopping. For example, if you buy a cotton shirt, you might ask the clerk if it will shrink. You can simply say '会缩水吗？' (Huì suōshuǐ ma? - Will it shrink?). If you wash your favorite sweater in hot water and it becomes too small, you can say '我的毛衣缩水了' (Wǒ de máoyī suōshuǐ le - My sweater shrank). It's a simple subject-verb structure. Focus on this physical meaning first. You don't need to worry about the financial or metaphorical uses yet. Just remember: 缩 (shrink) + 水 (water) = shrinking because of water.

At the A2 level, you can start using 缩水 in slightly more complex sentences and common shopping contexts. You might describe why you are returning a piece of clothing: '这件衬衫洗了一次就缩水了，质量不好' (This shirt shrank after just one wash; the quality is not good). You can also understand the negative result it brings. You are likely to encounter this word in elementary Chinese textbooks when discussing daily life and chores. Start to notice that '了' (le) is almost always used with 缩水 because we usually talk about the result of the shrinking. You might also see it in simple warnings on clothing labels, though those often use more formal symbols.

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At the B1 level, you should begin to recognize the metaphorical use of 缩水, particularly in news headlines or casual conversations about money. If your friend says '我的钱包缩水了' (My wallet has shrunk), they don't mean their physical wallet got smaller—they mean they have less money. You will see 缩水 used to describe budget cuts or a decrease in the number of benefits at work. For example, '公司的年终奖缩水了' (The company's year-end bonuses have shrunk). At this level, you should be able to distinguish between 缩水 (unintentional loss) and 减少 (general decrease). You are moving beyond the laundry room and into the world of social and economic changes.

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At the B2 level, 缩水 becomes a key vocabulary item for discussing economic trends and social issues. You will use it to describe the 'shrinking' of the middle class, the 'shrinking' of a country's population, or the 'shrinking' of purchasing power due to inflation. You should be able to use adverbs like '大幅度' (dà fúdù - by a large margin) or '严重' (yánzhòng - seriously) to modify it. For example, '受通货膨胀影响，民众的实际收入大幅缩水' (Affected by inflation, the people's actual income has shrunk significantly). You should also be comfortable using it in written reports to describe a reduction in the scope or quality of a project or service.

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At the C1 level, you should master the nuances of 缩水 in professional and literary contexts. You will encounter it in deep-dive economic analyses, where it might describe the 'shrinkage' of a company's market capitalization or the 'shrinkage' of a political candidate's lead in the polls. You can use it to critique the 'shrinking' content of a literary work or the 'shrinking' influence of a particular cultural movement. At this level, you understand that 缩水 implies a loss of substance or value that was once there. You can also use it in more abstract ways, such as describing the 'shrinking' of one's dreams or ambitions over time as they face the reality of life.

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At the C2 level, you use 缩水 with the precision of a native speaker, often employing it in sophisticated metaphors or ironical statements. You might use it to describe the 'shrinking' of public discourse or the 'shrinking' of intellectual curiosity in a digital age. You are also aware of the technical aspects of 缩水 in the textile industry, such as 缩水率 (shrinkage rate), and can discuss how different treatments affect fabric stability. Your usage of the word is no longer limited by context; you can apply the concept of 'unwanted reduction' to almost any field, from quantum physics to high-level political strategy, while maintaining perfect grammatical and stylistic accuracy.

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Practícalo Ejemplos Notas y consejos

缩水 en 30 segundos

Literal meaning: Fabric shrinking in water. Metaphorical meaning: Loss of value or size.
Commonly used in laundry contexts and financial news regarding budget or asset reduction.
Usually carries a negative connotation of unwanted loss or disappointment in quality.
Grammatically functions as an intransitive verb, often followed by the particle 'le' (了).

The term 缩水 (suōshuǐ) is a fascinating Chinese verb that literally translates to 'shrink water.' In its most basic and primary sense, it refers to the physical phenomenon where clothing or fabric becomes smaller after being washed, typically due to the effects of water, heat, or agitation. This is a common occurrence with natural fibers like wool, cotton, and silk. When you put a large cotton t-shirt into a hot dryer and it comes out fitting a toddler, you have experienced 缩水. This literal usage is essential for daily life, shopping, and household chores. However, the linguistic journey of 缩水 does not stop at the laundry room. It has evolved into a powerful and frequently used metaphor in the worlds of finance, economics, and general life. In these contexts, it describes the reduction in value, quantity, or size of something that was previously larger or more substantial. For instance, if the stock market crashes and your investment portfolio loses half its value, a Chinese speaker would say your assets have 缩水. If a company originally planned to build a massive skyscraper but reduced it to a small office building due to budget cuts, the project scale has 缩水. This duality makes the word indispensable for learners moving from basic survival Chinese to more advanced conversational and professional levels.

Literal Meaning: The physical contraction of textile fibers when exposed to moisture and heat during the laundering process.
Figurative Meaning: The depreciation, reduction, or downsizing of abstract concepts like wealth, time, reputation, or project scopes.

这件羊毛衫洗完以后缩水了，我现在穿不上了。 (This wool sweater shrank after washing; I can't wear it now.)

In the modern Chinese economy, you will encounter 缩水 almost daily in news headlines. It is used to describe everything from the 'shrinking' of the middle class to the 'shrinking' of a movie's budget. It carries a slightly negative connotation, implying a loss or a disappointment. Unlike the neutral word 缩小 (suōxiǎo), which simply means to make smaller, 缩水 implies that something has lost its original, expected, or desired volume. Understanding this nuance is key to sounding like a native speaker. When you use 缩水, you aren't just describing a change in size; you are often expressing a sense of loss or a decrease in quality or value.

受通货膨胀影响，大家的购买力都缩水了。 (Influenced by inflation, everyone's purchasing power has shrunk.)

Using 缩水 correctly requires understanding its role as an intransitive verb in most cases, though it can also function as part of a compound noun. The most common structure is [Subject] + 缩水了. The particle '了' (le) is frequently attached because 缩水 usually describes a completed change of state—something was big, and now it is small. For example, '我的衣服缩水了' (My clothes shrank). In this sentence, the action is complete and the result is evident. You can also use it to modify nouns directly, such as '缩水的衣服' (shrunken clothes) or '缩水的资产' (shrunken assets), though this is slightly less common than using it as a predicate. When talking about financial loss, it is often paired with words like '严重' (yánzhòng - serious) or '大幅' (dàfú - by a large margin) to indicate the degree of shrinkage.

Common Structure: [Entity] + 缩水 + [Degree/Result]. Example: 他的财富缩水了百分之五十。

Another important usage is in the context of 'preventing' shrinkage. In a laundry context, you might ask a salesperson, '这件衣服洗了会缩水吗？' (Will this piece of clothing shrink after washing?). This is a vital phrase for anyone shopping in China. If the answer is '不缩水' (bù suōshuǐ), it means the fabric is pre-shrunk or synthetic. In business, you might discuss '防止资产缩水' (preventing asset shrinkage), which refers to hedging against inflation or market volatility. The word is versatile because it bridges the gap between the mundane (laundry) and the sophisticated (macroeconomics).

由于预算不足，这个项目的规模不得不缩水。 (Due to insufficient budget, the scale of this project had to shrink.)

这种面料经过特殊处理，绝对不会缩水。 (This fabric has been specially treated and will definitely not shrink.)

You will hear 缩水 in a variety of environments, ranging from the very casual to the highly professional. In a domestic setting, it's a staple word in any conversation about housework. Mothers might warn their children not to put certain sweaters in the washing machine, or friends might complain about a cheap t-shirt they bought online that became unwearable after one wash. In these contexts, the tone is usually one of annoyance or practical advice. However, if you step into a bank or a corporate office in Beijing or Shanghai, the word takes on a more serious, even ominous tone. Financial advisors use it to describe the impact of inflation on savings, and CEOs use it to explain why bonuses might be smaller this year. It's a word that appears frequently in financial news broadcasts on CCTV or in the pages of the Caixin Global business journal.

Context: Daily Life: Complaining about laundry mishaps or asking about fabric quality while shopping.
Context: Business/Finance: Discussing market crashes, inflation, budget cuts, or the devaluation of currency.

股市大跌导致许多投资者的财富瞬间缩水。 (The stock market crash caused many investors' wealth to shrink instantly.)

Another interesting place you might hear 缩水 is in the entertainment industry. When a TV show that was supposed to have 40 episodes is cut down to 30 due to poor ratings or censorship, fans will complain that the 'plot has shrunk' (剧情缩水) or the 'production quality has shrunk' (制作缩水). This implies that the final product is a lesser version of what was promised. In social media discussions, people might use it humorously to describe their 'shrinking' social battery or their 'shrinking' free time. It's a highly expressive word that captures the feeling of something diminishing in a way that is usually unwanted.

虽然名义工资涨了，但实际购买力却缩水了。 (Although the nominal wage rose, the actual purchasing power has shrunk.)

One of the most frequent mistakes learners make is confusing 缩水 with other words that mean 'to decrease' or 'to shrink,' such as 缩小 (suōxiǎo) or 减少 (jiǎnshǎo). While they are related, they are not always interchangeable. 缩小 is a general term for making something smaller in physical size or scale (like zooming out on a map), and it is often a neutral or intentional act. 缩水, on the other hand, is almost always unintentional and carries a negative nuance of loss. For example, you would '缩小' a photo on your phone, but you would never say the photo '缩水了' unless you were making a very strange joke about the digital data losing its value. Similarly, 减少 refers to a reduction in number or quantity (like reducing the number of students), whereas 缩水 refers to the overall volume or value of a single entity diminishing.

Mistake: Using 缩水 for intentional resizing: Incorrect: 我把这张图片缩水了。 Correct: 我把这张图片缩小了。
Mistake: Using 缩水 for countables: Incorrect: 参加会议的人数缩水了。 Correct: 参加会议的人数减少了。 (Unless you mean the 'significance' of the crowd shrank).

Another common error is treating 缩水 as a transitive verb that takes a direct object. In English, we can say 'The hot water shrank my shirt.' In Chinese, you cannot say '热水缩水了我的衬衫.' Instead, you must use a '使' (shǐ) or '让' (ràng) construction to show causation, or simply state that the shirt shrank because of the hot water: '因为热水，我的衬衫缩水了.' Understanding that 缩水 describes the state of the subject is crucial for grammatical accuracy. Lastly, learners sometimes forget that 缩水 is a 'separable' looking word but actually functions as a single verb unit. You don't usually put anything between 缩 and 水.

很多人错误地认为“缩水”可以用来形容所有变小的东西。 (Many people mistakenly believe that 'shrink' can be used to describe everything that becomes smaller.)

To truly master 缩水, you must know its synonyms and how they differ in flavor and context. The most direct alternative in a literal sense is 变小 (biàn xiǎo), which simply means 'to become small.' This is very common in spoken Chinese and is safe to use if you forget the specific term for shrinking. However, it lacks the technical precision of 缩水 when talking about fabric. In financial contexts, 缩水 is often replaced by more formal terms like 萎缩 (wěisuō) or 缩减 (suōjiǎn). 萎缩 is frequently used in medicine (like muscle atrophy) and economics (like a market contraction). It sounds more academic and clinical than 缩水. 缩减, meanwhile, implies an active cutting down of something, like a budget or a workforce, whereas 缩水 often feels like it happened as a side effect or an external force.

缩水 vs. 萎缩 (wěisuō): 缩水 is used for laundry and financial value; 萎缩 is used for muscles, markets, and economic organs. 萎缩 sounds more formal.
缩水 vs. 减少 (jiǎnshǎo): 减少 is for numbers and quantities; 缩水 is for volume and value. You reduce (减少) the number of apples, but the value of your bank account shrinks (缩水).

Another interesting comparison is with 抽水 (chōushuǐ). While 抽水 usually means 'to pump water,' in certain dialects or contexts, it can refer to taking a cut of money (like a commission or a 'rake' in gambling). This is different from 缩水, where the value disappears rather than being taken by someone else. For learners, the best approach is to stick with 缩水 for anything related to laundry mishaps or the 'shrinking' feeling of one's wallet or project goals. If you want to sound more professional in a business meeting, you might opt for '资产减值' (zīchǎn jiǎnzhí - asset impairment) or '市场萎缩' (shìchǎng wěisuō - market contraction), but in a casual conversation, 缩水 is perfectly acceptable and very common.

面对经济不景气，很多公司的利润都出现了缩水现象。 (In the face of economic recession, many companies' profits have experienced a shrinking phenomenon.)

How Formal Is It?

Dato curioso

In the 1990s, as the Chinese stock market began to grow, investors started using 'suoshui' to describe the painful experience of seeing their account balances drop, making it a permanent part of financial slang.

Guía de pronunciación

UK suō shuǐ

US suō shuǐ

The stress is balanced between the two syllables, but 'shuǐ' often feels slightly more emphasized due to the 3rd tone contour.

Rima con

多 (duō) 波 (bō) 美 (měi - for the second syllable) 轨 (guǐ) 嘴 (zuǐ) 腿 (tuǐ) 鬼 (guǐ) 北 (běi - near rhyme)

Errores comunes

Pronouncing 'suo' as 'shuo' (mixing up s and sh).
Pronouncing 'shui' as 'sui' (mixing up sh and s).
Failing to dip the 3rd tone on 'shuǐ'.
Confusing the 1st tone of 'suō' with the 2nd tone 'suó'.
Mixing up the word with 'shuǐsuō' (not a word).

Nivel de dificultad

Lectura 2/5

Characters are relatively common; 缩 is slightly complex but recognizable.

Escritura 3/5

Writing 缩 requires attention to the radical and the right side structure.

Expresión oral 1/5

Pronunciation is straightforward.

Escucha 1/5

Easily distinguishable in context.

Qué aprender después

Requisitos previos

水衣服洗变小

Aprende después

缩小萎缩膨胀贬值质量

Avanzado

通货膨胀资产配置宏观经济纤维面料

Gramática que debes saber

The particle '了' for change of state.

衣服缩水了。

Using '会' to indicate future possibility.

这种布料洗了会缩水。

Using '让' or '使' for causative sentences.

热水会让衣服缩水。

Adjective phrase with '的'.

缩水的衣服。

Degree complements.

缩水了很多。

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Ejemplos por nivel

我的衣服缩水了。

My clothes shrank.

Subject + 缩水 + 了.

这件毛衣会缩水吗？

Will this sweater shrink?

Question form using '会...吗'.

这件衬衫不缩水。

This shirt doesn't shrink.

Negation using '不'.

不要用热水洗，会缩水的。

Don't wash with hot water, it will shrink.

Warning using '不要...会...的'.

洗完以后，裤子缩水了。

After washing, the pants shrank.

Time phrase + 缩水了.

这件衣服缩水了一点点。

This clothing shrank a little bit.

Adding a complement of quantity '一点点'.

纯棉的衣服容易缩水。

Pure cotton clothes shrink easily.

Adverb '容易' (easily) before the verb.

缩水了以后，我穿不上了。

After it shrank, I couldn't wear it anymore.

Resultative construction '穿不上'.

这件衣服缩水太严重了。

This clothing shrank too seriously.

Using '太...了' to emphasize the degree.

我买了一件不缩水的衬衫。

I bought a non-shrinking shirt.

Using '不缩水' as an adjective phrase to modify '衬衫'.

如果缩水了，可以退货吗？

If it shrinks, can I return it?

Conditional '如果...可以...吗'.

这双袜子洗了以后缩水了很多。

These socks shrank a lot after washing.

Using '很多' as a complement.

羊毛衫最怕缩水。

Wool sweaters are most afraid of shrinking.

Using '最怕' to indicate vulnerability.

为了防止缩水，我用冷水洗。

To prevent shrinking, I wash with cold water.

Purpose clause '为了防止'.

你的裤子是不是缩水了？

Did your pants shrink?

Confirmation question '是不是...了'.

这件大衣虽然贵，但是不缩水。

Although this coat is expensive, it doesn't shrink.

Concession '虽然...但是'.

最近我的钱包缩水了不少。

Recently, my wallet has shrunk quite a bit.

Metaphorical use for money.

公司的预算缩水了，我们得省着点花。

The company's budget has shrunk; we have to spend sparingly.

Metaphorical use for budget.

这个项目的规模缩水了一半。

The scale of this project has shrunk by half.

Using '一半' (half) as a complement.

由于通货膨胀，大家的存款都缩水了。

Due to inflation, everyone's savings have shrunk.

Causal '由于' (due to).

这部电视剧的集数缩水了。

The number of episodes of this TV series has shrunk.

Metaphorical use for content quantity.

他的名声因为这次丑闻而缩水了。

His reputation shrank because of this scandal.

Metaphorical use for reputation.

虽然工资没变，但福利缩水了。

Although the salary hasn't changed, the benefits have shrunk.

Contrast between salary and benefits.

我们要想办法防止资产缩水。

We need to find a way to prevent asset shrinkage.

Using '想办法' (find a way).

受全球经济影响，该公司的市值大幅缩水。

Affected by the global economy, the company's market value shrank significantly.

Formal adverb '大幅' (by a large margin).

原本三小时的演讲缩水成了一个小时。

The original three-hour speech shrank to one hour.

Using '缩水成' (shrink into/to).

随着竞争加剧，他们的市场份额正在缩水。

As competition intensifies, their market share is shrinking.

Progressive '正在' (is currently).

这次活动的质量比起去年明显缩水了。

The quality of this event has clearly shrunk compared to last year.

Comparison '比起...明显'.

政府不得不缩水一些公共开支。

The government had to shrink some public spending.

Verb phrase '缩水...开支'.

由于原材料涨价，产品的分量缩水了。

Due to the rising cost of raw materials, the product's portion size shrank.

Causal '由于'.

他的权力在这次重组中大大缩水了。

His power shrank significantly in this reorganization.

Metaphorical use for power/influence.

如果不采取措施，你的投资将会缩水。

If measures aren't taken, your investment will shrink.

Future tense '将会'.

在后疫情时代，许多行业的利润空间都在缩水。

In the post-pandemic era, profit margins in many industries are shrinking.

Abstract concept '利润空间' (profit space/margin).

这部小说的中文译本比原著缩水了不少内容。

The Chinese translation of this novel has shrunk quite a bit of content compared to the original.

Comparing translation to original.

由于缺乏核心竞争力，该品牌的品牌价值严重缩水。

Due to a lack of core competitiveness, the brand value of this brand has seriously shrunk.

Formal noun '核心竞争力'.

中产阶级的财富缩水是一个全球性的社会问题。

The shrinking of middle-class wealth is a global social issue.

Using '缩水' as a noun phrase (nominalization).

这家百年老店的口碑在近年来有所缩水。

The reputation of this century-old shop has shrunk somewhat in recent years.

Using '有所' (to some extent).

由于技术迭代太快，旧设备的残值迅速缩水。

Due to rapid technological iteration, the residual value of old equipment is shrinking rapidly.

Economic term '残值' (residual value).

这种过度包装的行为实际上让产品本身的价值缩水了。

This act of over-packaging actually makes the value of the product itself shrink.

Causative '让' construction.

在信息爆炸的时代，人们的深度阅读时间正在缩水。

In the era of information explosion, people's deep reading time is shrinking.

Metaphorical use for time/habit.

货币贬值直接导致了国民购买力的断崖式缩水。

Currency devaluation directly led to a cliff-like shrinkage of national purchasing power.

Idiomatic adverb '断崖式' (cliff-like).

随着地缘政治局势的紧张，该地区的投资吸引力大幅缩水。

With the tension in the geopolitical situation, the investment attractiveness of the region has shrunk significantly.

Abstract concept '投资吸引力'.

在这个快节奏的社会，人与人之间的情感交流似乎也在缩水。

In this fast-paced society, emotional communication between people also seems to be shrinking.

Philosophical/Sociological application.

由于版权争议，该音乐平台的曲库规模缩水严重。

Due to copyright disputes, the scale of the music platform's library has shrunk seriously.

Professional context '曲库规模'.

这种政策的变动使得原本优厚的福利待遇瞬间缩水。

This policy change made the originally generous benefits shrink instantly.

Causative '使得' (to make/cause).

在学术严谨性面前，任何缩水的论证都是站不住脚的。

In the face of academic rigor, any shrunken (insufficient) argument is untenable.

Using '缩水' to mean 'lacking substance'.

历史的真相往往在口耳相传中不断缩水和失真。

The truth of history often shrinks and becomes distorted through word of mouth.

Abstract use with '失真' (distortion).

如果缺乏创新，企业的生命力终将缩水乃至枯竭。

If innovation is lacking, the vitality of an enterprise will eventually shrink or even dry up.

Using '乃至' (and even) for emphasis.

Sinónimos

缩小萎缩减少缩减变小贬值亏损紧缩

Antónimos

膨胀扩大增加增值

Colocaciones comunes

严重缩水

大幅缩水

防止缩水

缩水率

项目缩水

钱包缩水

内容缩水

缩水严重

导致缩水

明显缩水

Frases Comunes

缩水了

— Has shrunk. Used to describe the completed state.

我的衬衫缩水了。

会缩水吗？

— Will it shrink? Essential for shopping.

请问这件纯棉的会缩水吗？

不缩水

— Doesn't shrink. A selling point for clothes.

这种面料洗了不缩水。

资产缩水

— Shrinking of assets/wealth.

股市波动导致资产缩水。

预算缩水

— Budget cut or reduction.

今年的部门预算缩水了。

规模缩水

— Reduction in scale.

晚会的规模缩水了很多。

福利缩水

— Reduction in employee benefits.

员工们担心福利会缩水。

利润缩水

— Shrinking of profits.

由于成本上升，利润缩水了。

内容缩水

— Reduction in content or substance.

书的第二版内容缩水了。

身价缩水

— A person's net worth or value shrinking.

那位球星的身价缩水了。

Se confunde a menudo con

缩水 vs 缩小

缩小 is intentional/neutral (like zooming); 缩水 is unintentional/negative (like loss).

缩水 vs 减少

减少 is for numbers/counts; 缩水 is for volume/value.

缩水 vs 萎缩

萎缩 is more formal/academic, often used for muscles or markets.

Modismos y expresiones

"缩水大王"

— A humorous or derogatory term for a product or person that constantly shrinks or underdelivers.

这家公司真是缩水大王，说好的福利都没了。

Slang

"钱包缩水"

— To have less money than before, usually after spending or inflation.

过完年，我的钱包缩水了一大半。

Informal

"水分十足"

— The opposite concept—something that is bloated or exaggerated. If you 'remove the water' (去水分), it might 'shrink' (缩水) to its real size.

他的简历水分十足。

Informal

"大打折扣"

— To be greatly reduced or discounted (in quality or value), similar to metaphorical shrinkage.

他的信誉大打折扣。

Neutral

"缩头缩脑"

— To be timid or hesitant (uses 'suo' but unrelated to water).

别缩头缩脑的，大胆一点。

Informal

"缩减开支"

— To cut down on expenses.

公司正在缩减开支。

Formal

"节衣缩食"

— To live frugally (literally: save on clothes and food).

为了买房，他节衣缩食。

Literary

"缩手缩脚"

— To be over-cautious.

做事不要缩手缩脚的。

Informal

"缩衣节食"

— Same as 节衣缩食.

过着缩衣节食的生活。

Literary

"缩短距离"

— To shorten the distance (uses 'suo').

新技术缩短了人与人的距离。

Neutral

Fácil de confundir

缩水 vs 缩小

Both involve getting smaller.

缩小 is a general, neutral verb for reducing size or scale. 缩水 implies a loss of value or an accidental reduction in fabric size.

请缩小这张地图。

缩水 vs 缩短

Both involve reduction.

缩短 is specifically for length or time. 缩水 is for volume, value, or fabric.

会议时间缩短了。

缩水 vs 减小

Both mean 'to decrease'.

减小 is often used for physical forces (like pressure) or abstract intensity. 缩水 is more specific to laundry and economic value.

压力减小了。

缩水 vs 抽水

Both contain 'water' and relate to reduction.

抽水 means to pump water or, in slang, to take a commission. 缩水 is to shrink.

他在赌场抽水。

缩水 vs 退色

Both are common laundry problems.

退色 means to fade in color. 缩水 means to shrink in size.

这件衣服洗了会退色。

Patrones de oraciones

Subject + 缩水了。

衣服缩水了。

Subject + 会缩水吗？

这件衬衫会缩水吗？

Subject + 缩水了 + [Quantity].

预算缩水了一半。

由于...，Subject + 大幅缩水。

由于通胀，购买力大幅缩水。

Subject + 的缩水导致了...。

利润的缩水导致了裁员。

在...面前，Subject + 正在缩水。

在现实面前，他的梦想正在缩水。

不 + 缩水。

这种布不缩水。

防止 + [Noun] + 缩水。

我们要防止资产缩水。

Familia de palabras

Sustantivos

缩水率 (shrinkage rate)

缩影 (epitome/miniature)

Verbos

缩小 (to reduce size)

缩减 (to cut down)

缩短 (to shorten)

压缩 (to compress)

Adjetivos

缩过水的 (pre-shrunk)

Relacionado

缩小

萎缩

减少

贬值

紧缩

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Cómo usarlo

frequency

Very high in both daily life and media.

Errores comunes

我缩水了我的衣服。 → 我把衣服洗缩水了。
缩水 is intransitive; it cannot take a direct object in this way.
这张照片缩水了。 → 这张照片缩小了。
Use 缩小 for digital or intentional resizing.
人数缩水了。 → 人数减少了。
Use 减少 for countable numbers of people.
他变短了 (meaning he shrank in the wash). → 他的衣服缩水了。
变短 refers to length, but 缩水 is the specific term for laundry shrinkage.
我的钱包变小了 (meaning I lost money). → 我的钱包缩水了。
While '变小' is okay, '缩水' is much more idiomatic for losing money.

Consejos

Use with 了

Since 缩水 usually describes a result, always remember to add '了' (le) at the end of the sentence.

Ask before buying

Always ask '会缩水吗？' when buying cotton or wool in China to check quality.

Economic context

When you see this in news headlines, immediately think 'loss of value' rather than 'washing clothes'.

Synonym choice

Choose 缩小 for maps/photos and 缩水 for sweaters/wallets.

Prevention

To say 'prevent shrinking', use the phrase '防止缩水'.

Abstract use

Don't be afraid to use it for abstract things like 'time' or 'enthusiasm' to sound more expressive.

Character 'Suo'

The right side of 缩 (suō) looks like a 'house' over 'person' over 'stars'—think of people shrinking inside a house.

Consumer Rights

In China, 'content shrinkage' (内容缩水) is a big topic in consumer protection.

Tone clarity

Keep the first tone high and steady to avoid confusing it with 'shuo' (speak).

Intransitive

Remember: something shrinks (on its own), you don't 'shrink something' using this verb alone.

Memorízalo

Mnemotecnia

Think of 'suo' (shrink) + 'shui' (water). Your clothes 'shrink' because of the 'water'.

Asociación visual

Imagine a giant wool sweater entering a washing machine and a tiny doll-sized sweater coming out.

Word Web

衣服 (clothes) 洗 (wash) 热水 (hot water) 钱 (money) 股票 (stocks) 预算 (budget) 变小 (become small) 损失 (loss)

Desafío

Try to use 缩水 in a sentence about your favorite piece of clothing and then in a sentence about your monthly budget.

Origen de la palabra

The word is a compound of 缩 (suō), meaning to contract or draw back, and 水 (shuǐ), meaning water. It describes the state of fabric contracting after being immersed in and then losing water.

Significado original: The physical contraction of textiles after washing.

Sino-Tibetan (Chinese).

Contexto cultural

No specific sensitivities; it's a very safe, standard word.

In English, we use 'shrink' for both laundry and money, but 'suoshui' is even more common in Chinese financial headlines than 'shrink' is in English newspapers.

Financial news reports on '财富缩水' (wealth shrinkage) of billionaires. Consumer rights programs (like 3.15) discussing '内容缩水' in products. Online memes about '钱包缩水' after shopping festivals like Single's Day.

Practica en la vida real

Contextos reales

Doing Laundry

这件毛衣缩水了。
会缩水吗？
防止缩水。
缩水严重。

Shopping for Clothes

这种面料缩水吗？
是不是缩过水的？
缩水可以退吗？
不缩水面料。

Financial News

资产缩水。
财富缩水。
利润大幅缩水。
市值缩水。

Project Management

预算缩水。
规模缩水。
内容缩水。
计划缩水。

Casual Conversation

钱包缩水。
我的假期缩水了。
时间缩水。
福利缩水。

Inicios de conversación

"你买过洗完以后缩水很严重的衣服吗？"

"现在的通货膨胀是不是让大家的钱包都缩水了？"

"如果你发现新买的衣服缩水了，你会去退货吗？"

"你觉得哪种面料的衣服最容易缩水？"

"你最近有没有感觉到自己的自由时间在缩水？"

Temas para diario

描述一次你把衣服洗缩水的经历。你是怎么处理的？

谈谈通货膨胀如何让你的生活预算缩水，你做了哪些调整？

如果一个你期待已久的项目规模缩水了，你会有什么感受？

写一段话，关于如何通过投资来防止资产缩水。

反思一下，在忙碌的生活中，你的哪些爱好或习惯正在缩水？

Preguntas frecuentes

10 preguntas

No, for people getting shorter (e.g., due to age), we use '变矮' (biàn ǎi) or '缩个儿' (suō gèr). 缩水 is strictly for fabrics and abstract values.

In 99% of cases, yes. It implies that something is less than it should be. However, in technical textile contexts, it might just be a neutral measurement of a fabric's property.

The opposite is '增值' (zēngzhí), meaning to increase in value or appreciate.

You can say '预缩处理过的' (yùsuō chǔlǐ guò de) or more simply '缩过水的'.

Yes, it can function as a noun in phrases like '缩水现象' (shrinkage phenomenon) or '缩水率' (shrinkage rate).

Sometimes. If a steak becomes much smaller after cooking, you could say it '缩水' (metaphorically), but '变小' is more common. It is very common for 'shrinkflation' in food packaging.

Not directly. You should say '我把衬衫洗缩水了' (I washed the shirt and it shrank).

Yes, it is used in the same way in Taiwan, both literally and metaphorically.

缩减 is usually an active, planned reduction (like cutting a budget). 缩水 feels more like a result or a side effect.

In some contexts, it refers to 'cutting corners' or providing less service than promised.

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