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A2 verb #7,000 most common 10 min read

退烧

tuìshāo Top 7,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 退烧 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 退烧 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you only need to know that '退烧' (tuìshāo) means 'the fever goes away.' It is the opposite of '发烧' (fāshāo), which means 'to have a fever.' You can use it in very simple sentences like '我退烧了' (My fever is gone). This level focuses on the basic survival need to communicate health status. You might hear a teacher or a parent ask '退烧了吗？' (Has the fever gone down?) when you are sick. It's a key word for basic medical interactions. Remember: 'tuì' is like 'go back' and 'shāo' is like 'fire' or 'fever.' So, 'fire go back' equals 'fever gone.'

At the A2 level, you should understand that '退烧' is a verb-object (VO) compound. This means you can separate the two characters. For example, you can say '退了烧' (tuì le shāo) to mean 'the fever has broken.' You also learn the word for fever medicine: '退烧药' (tuìshāoyào). At this level, you should be able to describe a simple sequence of events: '我吃了药，然后退烧了' (I took medicine, then the fever went down). You also learn to use '还没' (hái méi) to say the fever hasn't gone down yet: '他还没退烧' (He hasn't reduced his fever yet).

At the B1 level, you start to use '退烧' in more complex sentence structures. You might use resultative complements or potential complements. For instance, '退不下烧' (tuì bù xià shāo) means 'the fever won't come down.' This implies a struggle or a stubborn illness. You also begin to understand the difference between physical methods and chemical methods, such as '物理退烧' (wùlǐ tuìshāo - physical fever reduction like using cold towels). You can discuss health more naturally and explain why someone is still resting even after they have '退烧'ed.

At the B2 level, you can use '退烧' metaphorically. You will hear it in news reports about the economy or social trends. If a 'hot' market starts to cool down, reporters might say '股市退烧了' (The stock market fever has cooled). You also learn more formal synonyms like '退热' (tuìrè) which appear in medical journals or formal prescriptions. You can discuss the mechanism of how medicine works: '这种成分能有效地抑制体温调节中枢，从而达到退烧的目的' (This ingredient can effectively inhibit the temperature regulation center, thereby achieving the goal of reducing fever).

At the C1 level, you have a deep understanding of the nuances and cultural associations of '退烧.' You can discuss the history of fever treatments in China, contrasting Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) views on 'heat' (火) with modern medicine. You can use the term in sophisticated debates about social phenomena, such as the 'cooling down' of a cultural craze. You understand how the word functions in various registers, from the colloquial '退烧了没？' to the academic '退热机制的临床研究.' You also recognize it in literature where it might symbolize the end of a passionate but destructive relationship.

At the C2 level, '退烧' is a versatile tool in your linguistic arsenal. You can use it with effortless precision in any context. You might use it in a high-level economic analysis to describe the stabilization of a hyper-inflated sector. You can appreciate its use in puns or wordplay in headlines. Your understanding of the word is integrated into a broad knowledge of Chinese medicine, philosophy, and modern social dynamics. You can explain the etymological roots of '退' and '烧' and how they have evolved over millennia to represent the concept of returning to a state of balance and health.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

退烧 in 30 Seconds

退烧 (tuìshāo) means to reduce a fever. It is an A2 level verb-object compound essential for discussing health and medical recovery in Chinese.
It is separable (e.g., 退了烧). You use it when a fever goes away, often after taking medicine or resting.
Commonly heard in hospitals, pharmacies, and at home. It is often combined with 'yào' (medicine) to form 'tuìshāoyào' (fever-reducing medicine).
Metaphorically, it describes the cooling down of intense social trends, crazes, or economic activities that were previously 'hot' or 'feverish'.

The Chinese term 退烧 (tuìshāo) is a fundamental verb-object compound used in medical and everyday health contexts. At its most basic level, it translates to "to reduce a fever" or "to bring down a temperature." To understand its essence, one must look at the two characters that compose it. The first character, 退 (tuì), means to retreat, to withdraw, or to recede, much like the tide pulling away from the shore. The second character, 烧 (shāo), literally means to burn or to cook, but in a medical context, it refers specifically to a fever (发烧 fāshāo). Therefore, tuìshāo is the process of the body's internal 'fire' retreating.

Clinical Usage: In a hospital or clinic setting, doctors use this term to describe the objective lowering of a patient's body temperature. It is often used when discussing the efficacy of medicine or the progress of a recovery.

吃了这种药，二十分钟就能退烧。(After taking this medicine, the fever will break in twenty minutes.)

Beyond the clinical, tuìshāo is a word of great relief for parents and caregivers. In Chinese households, monitoring a child's temperature is a common practice, and the moment a child finally 'tuìshāo' is often met with a collective sigh of relief. It marks the turning point of an illness. Interestingly, the word is also used metaphorically in modern Chinese to describe a 'cooling off' period for trends, markets, or intense emotions. For example, if a previously 'hot' stock market begins to stabilize and prices drop, one might say the market has 'tuìshāo'ed.

Metaphorical Usage: When a social craze or a 'feverish' obsession with a new gadget starts to fade, Chinese speakers use 'tuìshāo' to indicate that the public's enthusiasm is cooling down.

盲盒热潮终于退烧了。(The blind box craze has finally cooled down.)

In summary, whether you are talking about a physical ailment or a social trend, tuìshāo captures the essential transition from an intense, 'hot' state back to a normal, 'cool' state. It is a word rooted in the physical sensation of heat and the relief of its departure, making it an essential part of the Chinese vocabulary for health and social observation alike. Understanding its literal meaning of 'retreating fire' helps learners grasp its wide range of applications from the medicine cabinet to the stock market analysis.

Grammatically, 退烧 (tuìshāo) is a verb-object (VO) compound. This structure is crucial because it dictates how the word interacts with particles like le (了) and resultative complements. You cannot simply place an object after tuìshāo; instead, you must treat 'tuì' as the verb and 'shāo' as the object it acts upon. This is a common feature of A2-level Chinese grammar that provides a bridge to more complex sentence patterns.

The VO Split: Because it is a VO compound, when you want to say the fever 'has' broken, you often insert the particle 'le' between the two characters: 退了烧 (tuì le shāo). This indicates the completion of the action.

他打完针以后，很快就退了烧。(After he got the injection, his fever quickly came down.)

When using tuìshāo to describe a person's state, it often appears in the structure "[Person] + 退烧了". Here, the 'le' at the end indicates a change of state. If you want to express the inability to bring a fever down, you use the potential complement: 退不下烧 (tuì bù xià shāo). This highlights the struggle of the medicine or the treatment against a stubborn high temperature. This 'split' usage is very common in spoken Chinese and is a sign of a more natural-sounding speaker.

Causal Structures: To say 'help someone reduce fever', use '帮 (bāng)' or '给 (gěi)'. For example: '帮孩子退烧' (Help the child bring down the fever).

医生正在想办法帮病人退烧。(The doctor is trying to find a way to help the patient reduce the fever.)

Furthermore, tuìshāo can be modified by adverbs of degree or time. You can say '还没退烧' (hasn't reduced fever yet) or '已经退烧了' (already reduced fever). In more formal contexts, you might see '退烧效果' (fever-reducing effect), referring to how well a specific treatment works. By mastering these variations—the split VO, the compound noun 'tuìshāoyào', and the causal structures—you can accurately describe a wide range of health scenarios in Chinese, from a minor cold at home to a serious situation in a medical facility.

You will encounter 退烧 (tuìshāo) in several key environments in China. The most obvious is the hospital (医院 yīyuàn) or the local community clinic (社区诊所 shèqū zhěnsuǒ). In China, if someone has a high fever, it is very common to visit a 'fever clinic' (发热门诊 fārè ménzhěn). Here, you will hear doctors asking, "退烧了吗?" (Has the fever come down?) or advising, "如果还不退烧，就要打点滴" (If the fever still doesn't come down, you'll need an IV drip).

At the Pharmacy: When you go to a drugstore (药店 yàodiàn) to buy over-the-counter medicine, you will ask for 'tuìshāoyào'. The pharmacist might ask about the patient's age to recommend the right dosage.

请问这里有强效的退烧药吗？(Excuse me, do you have any strong fever-reducing medicine here?)

Another common place to hear this word is in the domestic sphere, particularly among parents. Chinese parenting culture is very attentive to a child's temperature. Parents will often discuss 'tuìshāo' methods in WeChat groups or in person at the playground. They might talk about 'physical fever reduction' (物理退烧 wùlǐ tuìshāo), which involves using warm water wipes or cooling patches (退热贴 tuìrètiē) rather than immediately jumping to medicine. This cultural nuance shows that 'tuìshāo' isn't just about pills; it's about a variety of caretaking techniques.

In the Media: News reports on flu seasons or public health crises will frequently use 'tuìshāo' when providing statistics on recovery rates or giving health tips to the public.

专家建议，如果持续不退烧，应立即就医。(Experts suggest that if the fever persists and doesn't come down, you should seek medical attention immediately.)

Finally, you might hear 'tuìshāo' in a more modern, slang-adjacent context regarding consumerism. When a new iPhone or a trendy pair of sneakers is released, the initial 'fever' (热 rè) is intense. After a few months, when the hype dies down, people will say the market has 'tuìshāo'ed. This metaphorical use is very common on social media platforms like Weibo or Xiaohongshu, where trends move at lightning speed. Hearing 'tuìshāo' in these contexts shows you've reached a level of Chinese where you can appreciate the language's flexibility and its ability to apply biological concepts to social phenomena.

One of the most frequent mistakes English speakers make with 退烧 (tuìshāo) is confusing it with its counterpart, 发烧 (fāshāo). While fāshāo means 'to have a fever' or 'to develop a fever', tuìshāo is the opposite—the act of the fever leaving. Using them interchangeably can lead to significant confusion, especially in a medical context where you might accidentally tell a doctor your fever is gone when you actually mean it has just started.

The 'Tuì' vs. 'Fā' Confusion: Incorrect: 我退烧了三天。(I've had a fever for three days.) Correct: 我发烧了三天。(I've had a fever for three days.) Use 'tuìshāo' only when the temperature is decreasing.

错误：他正在退烧，体温三十九度。(Wrong: He is 'reducing fever', temperature 39 degrees.) Note: If the temp is still high and rising, use 'fāshāo'.

Another common error involves the grammar of VO compounds. Many learners try to treat tuìshāo as a simple transitive verb and place an object directly after it. For example, saying "退烧他" (reduce fever him) is incorrect. In Chinese, you must use a 'ba' (把) construction or a 'help' (帮) construction to indicate who the fever reduction is for. This is a classic hurdle for A2 learners who are still getting used to the way Chinese verbs handle objects.

Misusing 'Le': Learners often forget that 'le' can go in the middle. While '退烧了' is correct for 'fever is gone', '退了烧' is often more natural when describing the sequence of events in a story.

正确：吃药以后，他终于退了烧。(Correct: After taking medicine, he finally brought the fever down.)

Lastly, some learners use 'tuìshāo' to mean 'cooling down' in a literal sense, like a cup of tea getting cold. This is incorrect. For inanimate objects losing heat, you should use '变凉' (biàn liáng) or '冷却' (lěngquè). Tuìshāo is specifically reserved for body temperatures or metaphorical social 'fevers'. Using it for a hot soup would sound very strange to a native speaker. By keeping these distinctions in mind—tuì vs. fā, VO structure, and the specific context of body heat—you can avoid the most common pitfalls and use 'tuìshāo' like a pro.

While 退烧 (tuìshāo) is the most common way to talk about reducing a fever, there are several other terms you might encounter depending on the level of formality or the specific method being used. Understanding these alternatives will help you navigate different social and medical situations with more precision and nuance.

退烧 (tuìshāo) vs. 降温 (jiàngwēn): 'Tuìshāo' is specific to fevers. 'Jiàngwēn' (lower temperature) is more general. You can 'jiàngwēn' a room with an air conditioner, but you can only 'tuìshāo' a person's body.

天气太热了，我们需要给房间降温。(The weather is too hot; we need to lower the temperature in the room.)

Another related term is 退热 (tuìrè). This is a slightly more formal or clinical version of 'tuìshāo'. You will often see it on medicine packaging or in medical reports. While 'tuìshāo' is what people say at home, 'tuìrè' is what the pharmaceutical company writes on the box. For example, '退热贴' (tuìrètiē) is the name for those cooling gel patches people put on their foreheads. Another term is 散热 (sànrè), which means to dissipate heat. This is often used for computers or machines, but in medicine, it refers to the body's physical process of letting heat out, like through sweating.

退烧 (tuìshāo) vs. 止烧 (zhǐshāo): 'Zhǐ' means to stop. While 'tuìshāo' is the standard term, 'zhǐ' is sometimes used in specific medicine names like '止烧口服液', though it is much less common in daily speech.

这种药的退热效果非常明显。(The fever-reducing effect of this medicine is very obvious.)

In summary, if you are at home or with friends, stick to tuìshāo. If you are reading a medical label or talking to a specialist, you might use tuìrè. If you are talking about the weather or a machine, use jiàngwēn or sànrè. By choosing the right word for the right context, you demonstrate a deeper understanding of Chinese and a sensitivity to the nuances of the language. This level of precision is what separates a beginner from an intermediate speaker.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

In ancient Chinese medicine, fevers were often called 're' (heat). The use of 'shāo' (burn) for a fever is a more modern colloquial development that became standard.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /tʰu̯eɪ̯˥˩ ʂɑʊ̯˥/

US /tʰweɪ̯˥˩ ʃaʊ̯˥/

Primary stress is on the first syllable 'tuì' because of the 4th tone's force, but 'shāo' is held longer.

Rhymes With

对 (duì) 贵 (guì) 睡 (shuì) 包 (bāo) 高 (gāo) 刀 (dāo) 猫 (māo) 招 (zhāo)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'tuì' with a rising tone (2nd tone), making it sound like 'tui' (leg).
Pronouncing 'shāo' with a falling tone, confusing it with 'shào' (young).
Mumbling the 'u' in 'tuì', making it sound like 'tè'.
Not distinguishing between the 'sh' in 'shāo' and the 's' sound.
Failing to separate the two syllables clearly in speech.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Characters are common but 'tuì' has many strokes.

Writing 3/5

Writing 'shāo' correctly requires attention to the fire radical and right-side components.

Speaking 2/5

Tones are distinct (4-1), making it relatively easy to pronounce clearly.

Listening 2/5

High frequency in health contexts makes it easy to recognize.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

发烧药医生水好

Learn Next

感冒咳嗽打针挂号检查

Advanced

抗生素免疫力炎症并发症解热药

Grammar to Know

Separable Verbs (VO Compounds)

他退了烧就去玩了。

Potential Complements

药没效果，一直退不下烧。

Resultative Complements

他的烧终于退下去了。

The 'Ba' Construction with VO

要把烧退下来才行。

Degree Complements

他退烧退得很彻底。

Examples by Level

我退烧了。

My fever is gone.

Subject + Verb-Object.

你退烧了吗？

Has your fever gone down?

Question with 'ma'.

他还没退烧。

He hasn't reduced his fever yet.

Use 'hái méi' for 'not yet'.

老师退烧了。

The teacher's fever is gone.

Simple declarative sentence.

我也退烧了。

I also reduced my fever.

Use 'yě' for 'also'.

宝宝退烧了。

The baby's fever is gone.

Common household phrase.

今天他退烧了。

Today his fever went down.

Time word at the beginning.

很快就退烧了。

The fever went down very quickly.

Use 'jiù' to emphasize speed.

吃药以后，他退烧了。

After taking medicine, his fever went down.

Time phrase + result.

这种退烧药很有用。

This fever-reducing medicine is very useful.

Compound noun 'tuìshāoyào'.

他退了烧就去上学了。

He went to school as soon as his fever broke.

Split VO 'tuì le shāo'.

多喝水可以帮你退烧。

Drinking more water can help you reduce fever.

Use 'bāng' to indicate assistance.

医生给他打针退烧。

The doctor gave him an injection to reduce the fever.

Purpose clause.

他终于退烧了。

He finally reduced his fever.

Use 'zhōngyú' for 'finally'.

我想买一点退烧药。

I want to buy some fever medicine.

Verb 'mǎi' + object.

如果退烧了，就不用吃药了。

If the fever is gone, you don't need to take medicine.

Conditional 'rúguǒ... jiù...'.

虽然退烧了，但他还是很累。

Although the fever is gone, he is still very tired.

Conjunction 'suīrán... dànshì...'.

他的烧总是退不下来。

His fever just won't come down.

Potential complement 'tuì bù xià lái'.

物理退烧对小孩比较好。

Physical fever reduction is better for children.

Subject is a noun phrase.

药效一过，他又发烧了，没能彻底退烧。

Once the medicine wore off, he got a fever again; it didn't completely go away.

Resultative complement 'chèdǐ' (thoroughly).

医生建议通过出汗来退烧。

The doctor suggests reducing the fever through sweating.

Use 'tōngguò' to show method.

这孩子退烧退得很慢。

This child's fever is coming down very slowly.

Verb duplication for descriptive complement.

为了帮他退烧，妈妈一整晚没睡。

In order to help him reduce the fever, Mom didn't sleep all night.

Purpose clause 'wèile'.

这种药退烧的效果不错。

The fever-reducing effect of this medicine is quite good.

Possessive 'de' linking noun phrases.

随着调控政策的出台，房地产市场开始退烧。

With the introduction of regulatory policies, the real estate market began to cool down.

Metaphorical use in economics.

如果病人持续不退烧，必须进行全面检查。

If the patient's fever persists, a comprehensive examination must be conducted.

Formal medical conditional.

这退烧药的副作用很小。

The side effects of this fever medicine are very small.

Technical term 'fùzuòyòng'.

这种新型病毒导致患者很难退烧。

This new virus makes it very difficult for patients to reduce their fever.

Causal verb 'dǎozhì'.

经过几天的治疗，他的体温终于退烧到了正常水平。

After several days of treatment, his body temperature finally dropped to normal levels.

Resultative structure.

马拉松热潮在一些城市已经开始退烧了。

The marathon craze has already begun to cool down in some cities.

Social trend metaphor.

这种草药在民间常被用来退烧。

This herb is often used among the people to reduce fever.

Passive structure 'bèi'.

医生正在密切观察他是否能顺利退烧。

The doctor is closely observing whether he can successfully reduce the fever.

Indirect question 'shìfǒu'.

尽管采用了多种手段，患者依旧高烧不退，难以退烧。

Despite using various methods, the patient's high fever persists and is difficult to reduce.

Concessive clause 'jǐnguǎn'.

那种盲目投资的狂热情绪在市场洗牌中逐渐退烧。

The fanatical mood of blind investment gradually cooled down during the market reshuffle.

Abstract metaphorical usage.

我们要警惕那些看似退烧，实则潜伏的病情。

We must be wary of those conditions that seem to have improved (fever gone) but are actually lurking.

Formal contrast 'kànshì... shízé...'.

这部作品让当时‘向西看’的文学热潮降温退烧。

This work cooled down the 'looking west' literary craze of the time.

Literary/Historical context.

在抗生素发明之前，退烧往往意味着从鬼门关走了一遭。

Before the invention of antibiotics, reducing a fever often meant a narrow escape from death.

Complex historical reflection.

这种药物的退烧机理尚不完全明确。

The fever-reducing mechanism of this drug is not yet fully clear.

Academic register.

他那种对电子产品的发烧友劲头最近似乎退烧了不少。

His enthusiasm as a gadget 'fever enthusiast' (hobbyist) seems to have cooled down a lot recently.

Wordplay on 'fāshāoyǒu'.

社会对网红经济的追捧正处于一个理性的退烧期。

Society's pursuit of the 'influencer economy' is in a rational cooling-off period.

Sociological analysis.

由于缺乏有效的临床介入，该流行病的退烧周期被显著拉长。

Due to the lack of effective clinical intervention, the fever reduction cycle of the epidemic was significantly prolonged.

High-level medical/statistical Chinese.

这场旷日持久的政治争端，在各方妥协下终于显现出退烧的迹象。

This long-standing political dispute finally showed signs of cooling down after compromises from all sides.

Diplomatic metaphorical usage.

在某些极端病例中，退烧过快反而可能诱发机体的应激反应。

In some extreme cases, reducing the fever too quickly may instead induce a stress response in the body.

Advanced physiological discussion.

那种对宏大叙事的痴迷在当代哲学探讨中已然退烧。

That obsession with grand narratives has already cooled down in contemporary philosophical discussions.

Abstract intellectual discourse.

退烧并非治疗的终点，而往往是病情转入观察期的信号。

Reducing fever is not the end of treatment, but often a signal that the condition has entered an observation period.

Philosophical medical perspective.

该地区的投资过热现象在政府强力干预下被迫退烧。

The phenomenon of investment overheating in the region was forced to cool down under strong government intervention.

Macroeconomic register.

他在艺术创作上的那种狂躁感，在步入中年后逐渐退烧，转而追求平和。

The sense of mania in his artistic creation gradually cooled down after entering middle age, turning instead to a pursuit of peace.

Psychological/Biographical narrative.

临床数据表明，该药在退烧效能上具有显著的统计学意义。

Clinical data show that the drug has significant statistical significance in fever-reducing efficacy.

Scientific research register.

Common Collocations

退烧药

物理退烧

还没退烧

终于退烧

退烧针

退烧快

难以退烧

彻底退烧

退烧效果

反复退烧

Common Phrases

烧退了

— The fever has gone down. (Common spoken word order).

他的烧退了，精神好多了。

退不下烧

— Cannot bring the fever down. (Potential complement).

孩子一直退不下烧，真让人着急。

帮他退烧

— Help him reduce the fever.

用冷毛巾帮他退烧。

打退烧针

— To get a fever-reducing injection.

如果口服药无效，只能打退烧针了。

退烧贴

— Cooling gel patch for fever.

给孩子脑门上贴个退烧贴。

还没退烧呢

— Hasn't reduced fever yet (adding emphasis).

别让他出去，还没退烧呢。

退烧之后

— After the fever has gone down.

退烧之后要注意休息。

有效退烧

— Effectively reduce fever.

如何安全有效地退烧？

自动退烧

— Fever goes down by itself.

有些小感冒会自愈，自动退烧。

退烧了吗

— Has the fever gone down?

你现在感觉怎么样？退烧了吗？

Often Confused With

退烧 vs 发烧

Opposite meaning. 'Fāshāo' is to have a fever, 'tuìshāo' is to lose it.

退烧 vs 退步

Both start with 'tuì', but 'tuìbù' means to regress or fall behind.

退烧 vs 降温

'Jiàngwēn' is for any temperature; 'tuìshāo' is specifically for fevers.

Idioms & Expressions

"药到病除"

— The medicine acts and the disease is gone. Used when a treatment like 'tuìshāo' works instantly.

这医生医术高明，真是药到病除。

Literary/Formal

"手到病除"

— The hand touches and the disease is cured. Similar to 'yào dào bìng chú'.

张医生的针灸非常厉害，手到病除。

Literary/Formal

"如释重负"

— To feel as if a heavy burden has been lifted. Often how parents feel when a child 'tuìshāo's.

看到孩子终于退烧了，妈妈如释重负。

Formal

"热度不减"

— The heat does not decrease. Often used for trends that haven't 'tuìshāo'ed yet.

尽管已经过去一个月，这部电影的热度不减。

Journalistic

"心平气和"

— Calm and composed. The mental equivalent of 'tuìshāo'.

等他退烧了，大家再心平气和地谈谈。

Neutral

"烟消云散"

— To vanish like smoke and clouds. Used metaphorically when symptoms or problems disappear.

吃了药后，他的病痛烟消云散。

Literary

"死灰复燃"

— Dying embers glowing again. Used when a fever or a bad trend returns.

千万要注意，别让病情死灰复燃。

Literary

"大汗淋漓"

— Dripping with sweat. Often the physical state when a fever 'tuìshāo's.

他出了一场大汗，终于退烧了。

Descriptive

"转危为安"

— To turn danger into safety. Used for serious illnesses that finally break.

经过抢救，病人终于转危为安，退烧了。

Formal

"不药而愈"

— To get better without medicine.

有些轻微的感冒可以不药而愈。

Formal

Easily Confused

退烧 vs 发烧

Both contain 'shāo' and relate to fever.

Fāshāo is the problem; tuìshāo is the solution/result.

他先发烧，后来退烧了。

退烧 vs 退热

They mean the same thing.

Tuìrè is formal/clinical; tuìshāo is colloquial.

包装上写着‘退热片’。

退烧 vs 冷却

Both involve things getting colder.

Lěngquè is for machines/objects; tuìshāo is for bodies/trends.

等发动机冷却一下。

退烧 vs 散热

Both involve heat leaving the body.

Sànrè is the physical mechanism; tuìshāo is the medical outcome.

电脑需要散热。

退烧 vs 降温

Both mean lowering temperature.

Jiàngwēn is general (weather, water); tuìshāo is specific to fevers.

明天天气会降温。

Sentence Patterns

S + 退烧了

我退烧了。

S + 还没 + 退烧

他还没退烧。

S + 退了 + 烧 + 就...

他退了烧就去上学。

S + 退不下来 + 烧

他一直退不下来烧。

用 + Method + 退烧

用冷毛巾退烧。

S + 开始 + 退烧

疯狂的市场开始退烧。

虽然...但依旧不退烧

虽然吃了药，但依旧不退烧。

进入...退烧期

经济进入了漫长的退烧期。

Word Family

Nouns

退烧药 (fever medicine)

退烧针 (fever injection)

退烧贴 (cooling patch)

Verbs

发烧 (to have a fever)

烧 (to burn)

退 (to retreat)

退休 (to retire)

退出 (to withdraw)

Adjectives

发烧的 (feverish)

退热的 (antipyretic)

感冒 (cold)

体温 (body temperature)

医生 (doctor)

生病 (to be sick)

康复 (recovery)

How to Use It

frequency

Extremely high in daily health discussions and pediatric contexts.

Common Mistakes

Using 'tuìshāo' to mean 'having a fever'. → 发烧 (fāshāo)
Learners often mix these up. 'Tuìshāo' is the recovery; 'fāshāo' is the illness. If you say 'wǒ tuìshāo le' when you are still hot, the doctor will think you are better.
Saying 'tuìshāo tā' (reduce fever him). → 帮他退烧 (bāng tā tuìshāo)
Because 'tuìshāo' is a VO compound, it cannot take another direct object. You must use 'bāng' (help) or 'gěi' (for).
Using 'tuìshāo' for hot tea or food. → 变凉 (biàn liáng)
'Tuìshāo' is only for body temperatures or metaphorical social 'fevers.' It sounds silly when used for objects.
Incorrectly placing 'le' after 'shāo' in a sequence. → 退了烧以后...
While 'tuìshāo le' is okay, '退了烧' is more common when the action of the fever breaking leads to another action.
Confusing 'tuìshāo' with 'tuìbù'. → 退烧 (tuìshāo)
'Tuìbù' means to fall behind or regress in skills. They only share the first character 'tuì'.

Tips

Separable Verb Rule

Remember that 'tuì' is the verb and 'shāo' is the object. You can put 'le' or 'guò' in the middle: '退了烧' or '退过烧'.

Medicine Names

If you see '退' on a medicine box in China, it's likely for reducing something (fever, swelling, etc.).

Drink Water

In China, 'tuìshāo' is almost always associated with 'duō hē rè shuǐ' (drink more hot water).

Tone Clarity

Don't rush the tones. 'Tuì' (4th) is a sharp drop, 'Shāo' (1st) is high and steady. Clear tones help doctors understand you better.

Market Trends

Use 'tuìshāo' to sound more advanced when discussing how a trend or a craze is dying down.

Radical Recognition

Recognize the 'fire' radical in 'shāo'. It tells you the word is related to heat or burning.

Context Clues

If you hear 'tuìshāo' in a pharmacy, the pharmacist is usually giving instructions on dosage.

Medical Accuracy

Always confirm with a doctor if you have 'tuìshāo'ed (fever is gone) before stopping any prescribed medication.

Retreating Fire

Think: 'The fire (shāo) is retreating (tuì).' This literal translation is the easiest way to remember the word.

Thermometer Talk

Pair 'tuìshāo' with 'tǐwēnjì' (thermometer) to discuss health accurately.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine a 'Tide' (starts with T like Tuì) of water putting out a 'Show' (sounds like Shāo) of fire. The fire is the fever, and the tide makes it retreat.

Visual Association

Picture a thermometer where the red line is a little person running 'backwards' (Tuì) away from a 'fire' (Shāo) at the top.

Word Web

发烧 (fāshāo) 退步 (tuìbù) 烧烤 (shāokǎo) 退钱 (tuìqián) 高烧 (gāoshāo) 体温计 (tǐwēnjì) 感冒药 (gǎnmàoyào) 凉快 (liángkuài)

Challenge

Try to use 'tuìshāo' in a sentence that also includes 'yīyuàn' (hospital) and 'zhōngyú' (finally).

Word Origin

The word is a combination of two ancient characters. '退' (tuì) dates back to early bronze inscriptions, depicting a foot moving away from a boundary. '烧' (shāo) combines the 'fire' radical with 'yao' (high/lofty), originally meaning a large fire.

Original meaning: Literally 'to make the fire retreat.'

Sino-Tibetan

Cultural Context

Be sensitive when discussing fevers in China; people may have strong opinions on TCM vs. Western medicine.

In English, we say 'the fever broke' or 'reduced the fever.' We don't usually use 'retreat' for fever, which makes the Chinese 'tuì' unique.

Commonly used in TV medical dramas like 'The Bond' (乔家的儿女). Often appears in childcare blogs and parenting magazines in China. Used in economic news headlines regarding the tech sector.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

At the Hospital

医生，他退烧了吗？
什么时候能退烧？
需要打退烧针吗？
退烧药怎么吃？

At Home

快给他退退烧。
烧退了就没事了。
物理退烧试试看。
多喝水能退烧。

At the Pharmacy

我想买退烧药。
哪种退烧药效果好？
有小孩用的退烧贴吗？
这个退烧快吗？

At School/Work

我退烧了，可以去上班了。
他还没退烧，请假一天。
等他退烧了再说。
你退烧了吗？注意休息。

Economic News

股市开始退烧了。
市场正在理性退烧。
投资热潮退烧。
房价终于退烧了。

Conversation Starters

"你感冒好点了吗？退烧了吗？"

"如果孩子半夜不退烧，你会怎么办？"

"你觉得哪种退烧药最有效？"

"你听说过物理退烧的方法吗？"

"你觉得现在的房地产市场退烧了吗？"

Journal Prompts

描述一次你生病发烧到退烧的过程。你当时感觉如何？

如果你是医生，你会如何建议病人安全地退烧？

谈谈你对某种社会现象（如网红店）从火爆到退烧的看法。

写一段对话，关于一位母亲帮生病的孩子退烧。

比较一下你国家和中国的退烧方法有什么不同。

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

While primarily used for humans and animals (biological fevers), it is very common in modern Chinese to use it metaphorically for markets or social crazes. For example, 'The housing market is finally tuìshāo-ing' means the prices and demand are cooling down.

No, that would mean your fever has been gone for three days. If you mean you HAD a fever for three days, you must say 'wǒ fāshāo le sān tiān.' 'Tuìshāo' is a change of state.

'Tuìshāoyào' is a general term for fever medicine. 'Tuìrèpiàn' specifically refers to fever-reducing tablets/pills and is a bit more formal.

It is a verb (specifically a VO compound). However, it can act as a modifier in nouns like 'tuìshāo-yào' (fever-reducing medicine).

You can say 'tuìshāo le' (fever is gone) or 'tuì le shāo' (has reduced the fever). Both are common, but 'tuì le shāo' is more common in narrative descriptions.

No. For a hot drink getting cold, use 'biàn liáng' (变凉). 'Tuìshāo' is strictly for fevers or metaphorical fevers.

'Wùlǐ tuìshāo' (物理退烧) refers to non-drug methods like using cold compresses, alcohol rubs, or lukewarm baths to lower a fever.

TCM uses terms like 'qīngrè' (clear heat), but 'tuìshāo' is the universal modern term used by both TCM and Western medicine practitioners in China today.

'Tuì' means to retreat. It implies that the illness is withdrawing from the body, which is a vivid way to describe recovery.

You can say: '医生，请帮我退烧' (Doctor, please help me reduce the fever) or '我需要退烧药' (I need fever medicine).