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B1 verb #4,000 most common 8 min read

削弱

xueruo Top 4,000

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 削弱 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 削弱 in your Level:

At the A1 level, you don't need to use '削弱' (xuēruò) in your own speaking yet, as it is quite formal. However, it is useful to recognize the two characters. '削' (xuē) means to cut or peel, like peeling an apple. '弱' (ruò) means weak, which is the opposite of '强' (qiáng - strong). So, '削弱' literally means 'to cut something until it is weak'. Imagine someone taking a big, strong stick and shaving it down with a knife until it is thin and easy to break. That is the basic idea of this word. For now, just remember that if you see '弱', the sentence is probably talking about something getting weaker. You will mostly use simpler words like '变弱' (biàn ruò) for 'becoming weak' at this stage.

At the A2 level, you can start to understand '削弱' when you see it in simple news headlines or stories. It is a formal way to say 'to make weak'. In A2, you already know words like '减少' (jiǎnshǎo - to reduce). You can think of '削弱' as a special kind of reduction—specifically reducing power or strength. For example, if you don't sleep, your body's strength is '削弱'-ed. While you might still say '身体变弱了', seeing '削弱' in a book shouldn't surprise you. Notice that the first character '削' is the same one used in '削铅笔' (xiāo qiānbǐ - to sharpen a pencil, literally 'to shave a pencil'). Even though the pronunciation changes to 'xuē' in '削弱', the 'cutting' meaning remains the same.

As a B1 learner, '削弱' is a word you should begin to use in your writing, especially for school or work. This is the level where you move beyond simple physical descriptions and start talking about abstract ideas. You can use '削弱' to describe how one thing affects another's power or influence. For instance, 'The noise weakened my ability to study' (噪音削弱了我学习的能力). At this level, it's important to distinguish '削弱' from '减弱'. Use '削弱' when there is a clear cause that is 'cutting away' at something's strength. Use it when talking about competition, team spirit, or the effectiveness of a plan. It makes your Chinese sound more professional and less like a beginner.

At the B2 level, you should use '削弱' fluently in discussions about politics, economics, and social issues. You should be comfortable using it in both active and passive (被) constructions. For example, '他的权威受到了挑战，地位被削弱了' (His authority was challenged, and his status was weakened). You should also know common collocations like '削弱力量' (weaken strength), '削弱影响' (weaken influence), and '严重削弱' (seriously weaken). At this stage, you are expected to understand the nuance that '削弱' implies a structural or qualitative loss, not just a quantitative one. You should also be careful with the pronunciation, ensuring you use the 'xuē' reading rather than 'xiāo'.

For C1 learners, '削弱' is a standard part of your analytical vocabulary. You should be able to use it to describe complex systemic changes. In an essay, you might discuss how globalism '削弱了主权国家的权力' (weakened the power of sovereign states). You should also be able to distinguish it from more specific synonyms like '动摇' (to shake/undermine a foundation) or '损耗' (to wear down through use). At this level, you can use '削弱' to describe subtle psychological shifts or complex institutional erosions. Your usage should reflect an understanding that '削弱' often describes a process that leads to a significant change in the balance of power or effectiveness.

At the C2 level, you use '削弱' with the precision of a native speaker, often in high-level academic or diplomatic contexts. You understand its historical weight and how it can be used rhetorically to emphasize the severity of a situation. You might use it in a phrase like '削弱了该理论的基石' (undermined/weakened the cornerstone of the theory). You are also aware of its place in classical-style four-character phrases or formal idioms. At this level, you don't just know what the word means; you know exactly when it is the 'only' word that fits the register and tone of your discourse, particularly when discussing the erosion of norms, the diminishing of legal authority, or the strategic weakening of an adversary.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

削弱 in 30 Seconds

削弱 (xuēruò) means to weaken or undermine power and influence.
It is a formal word used mostly for abstract concepts like status or ability.
Pronounced 'xuē' (not xiāo) in this specific compound context.
Common in news, business, and academic writing to describe structural decline.

The word 削弱 (xuēruò) is a vital verb in intermediate and advanced Chinese, primarily used to describe the process of making something weaker, less effective, or reducing its power. It is composed of two characters: 削 (xuē), which means to pare, peel, or whittle away, and 弱 (ruò), which means weak. Together, they evoke the image of someone carefully shaving off layers of an object until it loses its structural integrity or strength. This word is most frequently applied to abstract concepts rather than physical objects. You will hear it in discussions about power dynamics, economic trends, military strength, and even health.

Political Context: In politics, it describes the erosion of authority or the diminishing influence of a leader or a nation. For example, a scandal might 削弱 a politician's public support.
Economic Context: Economists use it to describe the loss of purchasing power or the lessening of a company's competitive edge in a saturated market.
Physical Health: While less common than abstract uses, it can describe the weakening of a person's constitution or immune system due to prolonged illness or lack of nutrition.

这种新政策可能会削弱我们的国际竞争力。(This new policy might weaken our international competitiveness.)

Understanding the nuance of 削弱 requires recognizing its active nature. Unlike 减弱 (jiǎnruò), which often describes a natural or passive fading (like the wind dying down), 削弱 often implies a specific cause or an external force acting upon the subject. It is a 'whittling down' that suggests a loss of substance. When a team loses its star player, their offensive capability is 削弱-ed. When inflation rises, the value of savings is 削弱-ed. It is a word of consequence and change.

长期的战争削弱了那个国家的经济基础。(Long-term war weakened that country's economic foundation.)

In summary, use 削弱 when you want to describe a deliberate or consequential reduction in strength, power, or effectiveness. It is a formal word, perfectly suited for essays, news reports, and professional evaluations. It conveys a sense of seriousness and structural decline that simpler words like '变弱' (biàn ruò) lack.

The grammatical structure of 削弱 (xuēruò) is quite straightforward, but its placement and the types of objects it takes are specific. It functions as a transitive verb, meaning it almost always takes a direct object. The typical pattern is Subject + 削弱 + Object, where the subject is the cause of the weakening and the object is the thing being weakened.

With Abstract Nouns: The most common objects are nouns like 力量 (strength), 影响 (influence), 斗志 (fighting spirit), 地位 (status), and 能力 (ability). Example: 失败削弱了他的信心 (Failure weakened his confidence).
Passive Construction (被字句): You can use it in passive sentences to emphasize the entity that has been weakened. Example: 他的权力被削弱了 (His power was weakened).

频繁的人事变动削弱了公司的凝聚力。(Frequent personnel changes weakened the company's cohesion.)

One important aspect of using 削弱 is the intensity it conveys. It is not just a 'decrease'; it is an 'undermining.' It suggests that the core strength of the object is being attacked or diminished. Therefore, it is often paired with adverbs of degree like 严重 (seriously), 极大 (greatly), or 逐渐 (gradually). For instance, '严重削弱' (seriously weaken) is a very common collocation in political journalism.

由于缺乏资金，研究计划的力度被大大削弱了。(Due to lack of funds, the intensity of the research plan was greatly weakened.)

When writing, ensure that the subject is something that can logically cause a reduction. While a person can be the subject (e.g., '他削弱了对手的力量'), it is more common for the subject to be an event, a condition, or a policy. This gives the sentence a more objective, formal tone. If you are describing a person's physical strength failing naturally over time, consider using '衰弱' (shuāiruò) instead, as 削弱 implies a more external or specific paring down.

这种做法只会削弱法律的权威性。(This practice will only weaken the authority of the law.)

If you tune into a Chinese news broadcast or read a newspaper like the People's Daily or Caixin, you will encounter 削弱 (xuēruò) almost daily. It is a staple of 'official' and 'analytical' Chinese. However, its use isn't confined to dry reports; it appears in various real-world scenarios that learners should be aware of.

News and Current Affairs: Reporters use it to describe shifts in global power. '美元的地位正在削弱' (The status of the US dollar is weakening) or '疫情削弱了全球供应链' (The pandemic weakened global supply chains). It carries a weight of authority and seriousness.
Business Meetings: In a corporate setting, a manager might say, '竞争对手的价格战削弱了我们的利润' (The competitor's price war has weakened our profits). It's used to discuss strategic disadvantages.
Sports Commentary: When a star player is injured, commentators will note that the team's '整体实力被削弱了' (overall strength has been weakened). It's a precise way to describe the impact of the loss.

长时间的加班削弱了员工的工作热情。(Long-term overtime has weakened employees' work enthusiasm.)

Interestingly, you might also hear it in academic lectures or historical documentaries. Historians often debate which factors 削弱-ed a dynasty's control, leading to its eventual fall. In these contexts, it implies a slow, systemic erosion rather than a sudden collapse. This 'process-oriented' meaning is key to its usage.

腐败问题严重削弱了政府的公信力。(The problem of corruption has seriously weakened the government's credibility.)

While you might not use 削弱 while buying vegetables at the market, you will certainly use it when discussing your career goals, analyzing a book, or debating social issues with Chinese friends. It is a 'bridge' word that moves you from basic conversational Chinese to a more professional and intellectual level of fluency.

Mastering 削弱 (xuēruò) involves avoiding several common pitfalls that learners often encounter. These mistakes usually stem from confusion with similar-sounding words or a misunderstanding of the word's specific 'flavor'.

Pronunciation Error: Xiāoruò: The character 削 has two readings. In 削弱, it MUST be 'xuē'. Many learners mistakenly say 'xiāoruò' because they are more familiar with 削 (xiāo) as in '削苹果' (peeling an apple). This is a hallmark of a non-native accent.
Confusion with 减弱 (jiǎnruò): While both mean 'weaken,' 减弱 is used for natural phenomena or things that fade on their own (wind, light, sound, interest). 削弱 is for things that are actively 'cut down' or undermined (power, influence, status). You wouldn't say '风削弱了' (the wind weakened); you'd say '风减弱了'.
Using it with Physical Objects: You generally don't use 削弱 to describe a physical object becoming fragile. If a bridge is getting old and weak, you would use '脆弱' (cuìruò) or '不稳固' (bù wěngù). 削弱 is almost exclusively for abstract strengths.

❌ 错误: 他的身体被感冒削弱了。
✅ 正确: 感冒使他的身体变得虚弱了。(A cold made his body weak.)

Another mistake is confusing 削弱 with 损害 (sǔnhài - to damage). While weakening something can be a form of damage, 削弱 specifically refers to the loss of power or effectiveness. If you break a window, you 损害 it. If you spread rumors about a company, you 削弱 its reputation. The distinction is subtle but important for advanced communication.

❌ 错误: 噪音削弱了我的听力。
✅ 正确: 噪音损害了我的听力。(Noise damaged my hearing.)

Lastly, learners sometimes forget that 削弱 is a formal word. In a very casual conversation with friends, saying '你削弱了我的快乐' (You weakened my happiness) sounds unnaturally stiff and poetic. In such cases, '你让我不开心了' or '你扫了我的兴' would be much more natural.

To truly master 削弱 (xuēruò), you must see how it fits into the broader family of words related to 'weakening' or 'reducing'. Chinese is rich with synonyms that vary by register, intensity, and subject matter.

减弱 (jiǎnruò) vs. 削弱: As mentioned, 减弱 is for natural fading (wind, light). 削弱 is for active undermining (power, influence). 减弱 is often intransitive (the wind weakened), while 削弱 is usually transitive (the policy weakened the economy).
衰弱 (shuāiruò): This word is specifically used for health, nerves, or the overall decline of a nation or civilization over a long period. It implies a state of being feeble. '神经衰弱' (neurasthenia) is a common medical term.
动摇 (dòngyáo): Literally 'to shake.' It is used when a foundation or a belief is being weakened to the point of instability. '动摇了信心' (shook/weakened confidence). It is more dramatic than 削弱.
淡化 (dànhuà): To play down or water down. Used for memories, colors, or the importance of an issue. '淡化影响' means to minimize influence, which is a specific way of weakening it.

虽然他的影响力被削弱了，但他的地位依然不可动摇。(Although his influence was weakened, his status remains unshakable.)

When choosing between these words, ask yourself: Is this a natural process (减弱)? Is it about health (衰弱)? Is it about stability (动摇)? Or is it about a loss of effectiveness or power caused by something else (削弱)? By making these distinctions, your Chinese will sound much more precise and native-like.

这种药物会削弱疫苗的效果。(This drug will weaken the effectiveness of the vaccine.)

In formal writing, you can also use 削减 (xuējiǎn) when talking about reducing budgets or numbers. While 削弱 is about 'strength', 削减 is about 'quantity'. For example, '削减开支' (reduce expenses). Knowing these '削' family words will broaden your vocabulary significantly.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The character 削 (xuē) was historically used to describe the action of scraping off characters from bamboo slips to correct errors, effectively 'reducing' or 'removing' content.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ʃɥɛ rue/

US /ʃwɛ rwo/

Primary stress is on the first syllable 'xuē', with a strong emphasis on the falling 'ruò'.

Rhymes With

学 (xué) 靴 (xuē) 若 (ruò) 弱 (ruò) 错 (cuò) 落 (luò) 阔 (kuò) 活 (huó)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 削 as 'xiāo' (as in 'peel'). In '削弱', it must be 'xuē'.
Using the wrong tone for 'ruò' (e.g., Tone 2 or 3). It must be a sharp falling Tone 4.
Confusing 'xuē' with 'xuě' (snow).
Mispronouncing the 'x' as a hard English 'x' or 'z'.
Failing to distinguish the 'u' and 'e' sounds in 'xuē'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

The characters are somewhat complex but common in news media.

Writing 4/5

Requires understanding of formal collocations and correct character strokes.

Speaking 3/5

The 'xuē' pronunciation is a common trap for learners.

Listening 3/5

High-frequency word in formal broadcasts.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

弱 (ruò) 强 (qiáng) 减少 (jiǎnshǎo) 力量 (lìliàng) 影响 (yǐngxiǎng)

Learn Next

动摇 (dòngyáo) 巩固 (gǒnggù) 抵消 (dǐxiāo) 瓦解 (wǎjiě) 衰落 (shuāiluò)

Advanced

权力的博弈 (quánlì de bóyì) 地缘政治 (dìyuán zhèngzhì) 宏观调控 (hóngguān tiáokòng)

Grammar to Know

Passive voice with '被' (bèi)

他的权力被削弱了。(His power was weakened.)

Adverbial modification

严重削弱 (Seriously weaken), 极大削弱 (Greatly weaken).

Subject-Verb-Object (SVO)

通货膨胀削弱了购买力。(Inflation weakened purchasing power.)

Verb-Complement (Resultative)

削弱到...的程度 (Weakened to the extent of...).

Nominalization

力量的削弱 (The weakening of strength).

Examples by Level

他不强，他很弱。

He is not strong; he is weak.

Focus on the character '弱' (ruò) meaning weak.

我会削苹果。

I can peel an apple.

Focus on '削' (xiāo) meaning to peel.

风变弱了。

The wind became weak.

A1 alternative to '削弱' for natural things.

他的身体不强。

His body is not strong.

Simple way to express weakness.

我们要变强。

We want to become strong.

The opposite of '弱'.

这个东西很薄，很弱。

This thing is very thin and weak.

Using '弱' for physical fragility.

他的声音很小，很弱。

His voice is very small and weak.

Using '弱' for sound.

光变弱了。

The light became weak.

Using '弱' for light.

生病削弱了他的体力。

Illness weakened his physical strength.

Introduction of '削弱' in a simple cause-effect sentence.

这个政策削弱了我们的力量。

This policy weakened our strength.

Using '削弱' with an abstract noun '力量'.

不要削弱大家的信心。

Don't weaken everyone's confidence.

Imperative use with '信心' (confidence).

竞争削弱了公司的收入。

Competition weakened the company's income.

Simple business context.

大雨削弱了比赛的节奏。

The heavy rain weakened the rhythm of the game.

Using '削弱' for the intensity of an event.

他的影响力正在削弱。

His influence is weakening.

Intransitive-like use of '正在削弱'.

水分削弱了纸的力量。

Moisture weakened the strength of the paper.

Simple physical application.

我们需要削弱对手。

We need to weaken the opponent.

Using '削弱' with a person/group as object.

长期的干旱削弱了农作物的生长。

Long-term drought weakened the growth of crops.

Environmental context.

频繁的错误削弱了他的可信度。

Frequent mistakes weakened his credibility.

Abstract object '可信度' (credibility).

由于缺乏投资，该项目的优势被削弱了。

Due to lack of investment, the project's advantages were weakened.

Passive voice with '被'.

这种药物可能会削弱你的免疫系统。

This drug might weaken your immune system.

Medical/health context.

通货膨胀削弱了人们的购买力。

Inflation weakened people's purchasing power.

Economic context.

他的反对意见削弱了委员会的决定。

His dissenting opinion weakened the committee's decision.

Political/Administrative context.

网络谣言削弱了政府的公信力。

Online rumors weakened the government's public trust.

Social media context.

新球员的加入并没有削弱球队的团结。

The addition of new players did not weaken the team's unity.

Negative use with '没有'.

不公平的竞争环境会严重削弱市场活力。

An unfair competitive environment will seriously weaken market vitality.

Use of adverb '严重' (seriously).

这种丑闻极大地削弱了该品牌的国际形象。

This scandal greatly weakened the brand's international image.

Use of '极大地' (greatly).

领导层的内斗削弱了机构的执行力。

In-fighting within the leadership weakened the organization's execution power.

Specific organizational vocabulary.

新法律的实施旨在削弱垄断企业的势力。

The implementation of the new law aims to weaken the power of monopolies.

Purpose clause with '旨在'.

持续的负面报道削弱了公众对该计划的支持。

Continuous negative reporting weakened public support for the plan.

Noun phrase as subject.

缺乏透明度会削弱合作伙伴之间的信任。

Lack of transparency will weaken the trust between partners.

Conditional sentence.

技术的落后正在削弱该工厂的竞争力。

Lagging technology is weakening the factory's competitiveness.

Progressive aspect '正在'.

这一发现并没有削弱他原本的论点。

This discovery did not weaken his original argument.

Academic context.

这种地缘政治变动削弱了该地区原有的平衡。

This geopolitical shift weakened the region's original balance.

High-level political terminology.

货币贬值削弱了该国偿还外债的能力。

Currency devaluation weakened the country's ability to repay foreign debt.

Economic analysis.

频繁的修正反而削弱了法律的严肃性。

Frequent amendments, on the contrary, weakened the seriousness of the law.

Logical connector '反而' (on the contrary).

媒体的过度解读往往会削弱事件本身的真实性。

Over-interpretation by the media often weakens the authenticity of the event itself.

Critical analysis.

该举措意在削弱地方政府的财政自主权。

The move is intended to weaken the fiscal autonomy of local governments.

Formal '意在' (intended to).

长期的社会动荡严重削弱了该国的文化凝聚力。

Long-term social unrest has seriously weakened the country's cultural cohesion.

Sociological context.

这种思维定式削弱了我们解决问题的创造力。

This mindset weakens our creativity in problem-solving.

Psychological/Cognitive context.

资本的外流进一步削弱了实体经济的发展基础。

The outflow of capital further weakened the development foundation of the real economy.

Complex economic causal chain.

此项裁决在无形中削弱了宪法赋予公民的权利。

This ruling invisibly weakened the rights granted to citizens by the constitution.

Use of '在无形中' (invisibly/imperceptibly).

历史虚无主义倾向会削弱一个民族的文化自信。

The tendency of historical nihilism will weaken a nation's cultural self-confidence.

Advanced ideological terminology.

这种权力的过度集中势必会削弱监督机制的效力。

This excessive concentration of power will inevitably weaken the effectiveness of oversight mechanisms.

Use of '势必' (inevitably).

该理论的逻辑漏洞极大地削弱了其学术说服力。

The logical loopholes in the theory have greatly weakened its academic persuasiveness.

Academic criticism.

单边主义行为严重削弱了多边贸易体系的根基。

Unilateral actions have seriously weakened the foundations of the multilateral trading system.

Diplomatic discourse.

这种功利主义教育观削弱了人文精神的传承。

This utilitarian view of education weakens the inheritance of the humanistic spirit.

Philosophical/Educational critique.

算法的偏见可能会削弱社会决策的公正性。

Algorithmic bias may weaken the fairness of social decision-making.

Modern technological ethics.

过度行政化倾向削弱了高校的科研活力。

The tendency toward excessive administration has weakened the scientific research vitality of universities.

Specific institutional critique.

Synonyms

减弱损害动摇淡化破坏

Antonyms

增强强化巩固

Common Collocations

削弱力量

削弱影响

削弱地位

削弱斗志

削弱竞争力

削弱权威

严重削弱

逐渐削弱

削弱效果

削弱基础

Common Phrases

被削弱了

— Has been weakened. Used to describe the result of an action.

我的权力被削弱了。

削弱对手

— To weaken the opponent. Common in sports and business strategies.

他们的策略是为了削弱对手。

削弱功能

— To impair function. Used in technical or medical contexts.

这种病毒会削弱细胞的功能。

削弱信心

— To dampen confidence. Used when morale is declining.

失败不应该削弱你的信心。

削弱控制力

— To weaken control. Used in management or politics.

由于管理不善，公司削弱了对市场的控制力。

削弱防御

— To weaken defenses. Used in military or cybersecurity contexts.

黑客试图削弱系统的防御。

削弱作用

— To diminish the role or effect of something.

这种成分会削弱药物的作用。

削弱联系

— To weaken the link or connection between things.

距离削弱了他们之间的联系。

削弱意志

— To weaken one's will or resolve.

艰苦的环境削弱了他的意志。

削弱优势

— To diminish an advantage.

新技术的普及削弱了我们的领先优势。

Often Confused With

削弱 vs 减弱

减弱 is for natural fading (wind, sound); 削弱 is for active undermining (power, influence).

削弱 vs 损害

损害 is to damage or harm; 削弱 is specifically to make less powerful or effective.

削弱 vs 衰弱

衰弱 is for health or long-term systemic decline; 削弱 is for specific paring down of strength.

Idioms & Expressions

"削弱实力"

— To weaken strength/capability. Frequently used in strategic contexts.

这场战争削弱了两国的实力。

Formal

"削弱势力"

— To weaken the power of a faction or group.

新王即位后，开始削弱旧贵族的势力。

Historical/Formal

"削弱影响"

— To diminish influence (often deliberately).

他试图通过演讲来削弱负面报道的影响。

Formal

"削弱根基"

— To weaken the very foundation of something.

腐败正在削弱社会的道德根基。

Formal/Literary

"削弱斗志"

— To sap someone's fighting spirit.

连日的失败削弱了士兵们的斗志。

Formal

"削弱地位"

— To undermine one's standing or position.

这次决策失误削弱了他在公司的地位。

Formal

"削弱权威"

— To undermine authority.

公开的质疑削弱了法官的权威。

Formal

"削弱势头"

— To dampen the momentum of something.

新政策削弱了房地产市场的上涨势头。

Formal/Economic

"削弱凝聚力"

— To weaken cohesion (of a group or team).

内部矛盾削弱了团队的凝聚力。

Formal

"削弱说服力"

— To weaken the persuasiveness of an argument.

缺乏证据削弱了这篇文章的说服力。

Formal/Academic

Easily Confused

削弱 vs 削减 (xuējiǎn)

Both start with '削' and involve reduction.

削减 is for quantitative reduction (budgets, numbers). 削弱 is for qualitative weakening (power, influence).

削减开支 (reduce expenses) vs 削弱地位 (weaken status).

削弱 vs 脆弱 (cuìruò)

Both contain '弱'.

脆弱 is an adjective meaning 'fragile' or 'easily broken'. 削弱 is a verb meaning 'to make weak'.

脆弱的玻璃 (fragile glass) vs 削弱力量 (weaken strength).

削弱 vs 虚弱 (xūruò)

Both contain '弱' and relate to weakness.

虚弱 is mainly used for physical health (frail/sick). 削弱 is for abstract power or effectiveness.

身体虚弱 (physically weak) vs 削弱影响 (weaken influence).

削弱 vs 减退 (jiǎntuì)

Both mean a decrease.

减退 is often used for functions or abilities fading over time (memory, appetite). 削弱 is more active.

记忆力减退 (memory decline) vs 削弱竞争力 (weaken competitiveness).

削弱 vs 动摇 (dòngyáo)

Both describe a loss of stability or strength.

动摇 implies shaking a foundation or making something unstable. 削弱 is a general reduction of strength.

动摇军心 (shake the army's morale) vs 削弱实力 (weaken strength).

Sentence Patterns

A 削弱了 B 的力量/信心。

失败削弱了他的信心。

B 被 A 削弱了。

他的地位被对手削弱了。

由于...，...受到了严重削弱。

由于管理不善，公司的竞争力受到了严重削弱。

...旨在削弱...的影响。

新政策旨在削弱房地产市场的投机影响。

...不仅没有增强...，反而削弱了...。

这次改革不仅没有增强效率，反而削弱了员工的积极性。

...在无形中削弱了...的基础。

长期的忽视在无形中削弱了这段关系的基础。

...势必会削弱...的合法性/权威性。

这种违规行为势必会削弱政府的合法性。

此举意在削弱...在...领域的主导地位。

此举意在削弱该公司在科技领域的主导地位。

Word Family

Nouns

弱点 (ruòdiǎn) - weakness/flaw

弱者 (ruòzhě) - the weak

弱小 (ruòxiǎo) - small and weak

Verbs

削 (xuē) - to pare/reduce

弱化 (ruòhuà) - to weaken/attenuate

削减 (xuējiǎn) - to cut/reduce

Adjectives

虚弱 (xūruò) - physically weak/frail

脆弱 (cuìruò) - fragile

微弱 (wēiruò) - faint/feeble

减少 (jiǎnshǎo)

降低 (jiàngdī)

动摇 (dòngyáo)

损害 (sǔnhài)

破坏 (pòhuài)

How to Use It

frequency

Common in news, academic writing, and professional discourse.

Common Mistakes

Using 'xiāoruò' as pronunciation. → xuēruò
In formal compounds like 削弱, the character 削 takes the literary reading 'xuē'.
风力削弱了 (The wind weakened). → 风力减弱了。
For natural phenomena like wind, light, or sound, use 减弱 (jiǎnruò).
削弱价格 (Weaken the price). → 降低价格。
Prices are 'lowered' (降低) or 'reduced' (削减), not 'weakened'.
这把椅子被削弱了 (The chair was weakened). → 这把椅子不稳固了。
削弱 is not typically used for physical structural integrity of objects.
他的病削弱了他的身体。 → 他的病使他的身体变得虚弱。
While technically possible, '虚弱' (xūruò) is the standard adjective for physical frailty.

Tips

Pair with Abstract Nouns

Always remember that 削弱 loves abstract partners: influence, status, power, confidence, and competitiveness.

The 'Xuē' Rule

Train your ear to hear Tone 1 'xuē'. It distinguishes the formal 'reduction' meaning from the physical 'peeling' meaning.

Use with '被'

削弱 works perfectly in passive sentences. '他的影响力被削弱了' is a very natural and common structure.

削弱 vs 减弱

If it's about the weather or sound, use 减弱. If it's about a person's power or a company's edge, use 削弱.

Formal Register

Save 削弱 for your formal writing, presentations, and serious discussions to sound more educated.

The '削' Family

Learn 削弱 (weaken), 削减 (reduce quantity), and 剥削 (exploit) together to master this character's formal uses.

Strategic Weakening

In a competitive context, use 削弱 to describe how you are undermining an opponent's advantage.

Immune System

One of the few biological contexts for 削弱 is the immune system (免疫系统). '这种病毒削弱了免疫系统'.

Degree Matters

Don't just say 'weaken'. Use '严重削弱' (seriously weaken) to add weight to your statement.

Avoid Overuse

While useful, don't use it for every decrease. If something just gets smaller, '减少' is often enough.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'Shoe' (xuē) being worn down until it's 'Raw' (ruò). The constant friction '削弱' (weakens) the sole.

Visual Association

Imagine a large, solid block of wood. Someone is using a sharp knife (the 刂 in 削) to peel away layers until only a tiny, 'weak' (弱) stick remains.

Word Web

Power Influence Authority Strength Reduction Erosion Undermining Competitiveness

Challenge

Try to use '削弱' in a sentence about a recent news event or a change in your own life (e.g., how lack of sleep weakened your focus).

Word Origin

The word is a compound of two characters found in Classical Chinese. '削' (xuē) originally depicted a knife (刂) used to shave or pare wood or bamboo. '弱' (ruò) originally depicted young, pliable bird feathers, symbolizing lack of strength.

Original meaning: To whittle away something until it becomes weak.

Sino-Tibetan

Cultural Context

Be careful when using it to describe people's health; '虚弱' is usually more appropriate and less 'active' sounding.

The English equivalent 'weaken' is broader. 'Undermine' or 'erode' often capture the nuance of 削弱 better in professional contexts.

Sun Tzu's Art of War (indirectly referencing the strategy of weakening enemies). Modern Chinese political white papers (frequently using 削弱 regarding sovereignty). History of the Three Kingdoms (tactics to weaken rival states).

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Economics

削弱购买力
削弱竞争力
削弱市场信心
削弱经济增长

Politics

削弱权力
削弱影响
削弱地位
削弱权威

Psychology/Morale

削弱斗志
削弱信心
削弱意志
削弱积极性

Science/Medicine

削弱免疫力
削弱药效
削弱功能
削弱反应

Competitive Sports/Games

削弱对手
削弱实力
削弱优势
削弱防御

Conversation Starters

"你觉得现在的社交媒体是否削弱了人们面对面交流的能力？"

"有哪些因素会削弱一个团队的凝聚力？"

"你认为人工智能的发展会削弱人类的创造力吗？"

"在你的职业生涯中，有没有什么经历削弱了你的自信？"

"你认为全球化是增强了还是削弱了各国的文化特色？"

Journal Prompts

写一写一次失败的经历，以及它是如何削弱你的信心，而你又是如何重新振作的。

分析一个你熟悉的品牌，讨论哪些因素正在削弱它的市场竞争力。

讨论在现代社会中，哪些因素正在削弱传统家庭观念的影响力。

反思自己的生活习惯，看看有哪些习惯正在削弱你的身体健康或工作效率。

如果你是一名领导者，你会如何防止内部矛盾削弱团队的力量？

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Generally, no. You wouldn't say 'the table was 削弱-ed'. Use '损毁' (damaged) or '不稳固' (unstable). 削弱 is for abstract things like power, influence, or effectiveness.

减弱 is often natural or passive (the wind 减弱s). 削弱 is usually the result of an active cause or external force (the scandal 削弱s the leader's power).

Usually, yes. It implies a loss of something positive like strength or influence. However, in strategy, you might '削弱' an enemy, which is positive for you.

It is pronounced 'xuē' (Tone 1). Do not use the 'xiāo' pronunciation used in '削皮' (peeling).

It is primarily a verb. While it can appear in noun phrases like '力量的削弱', it is rarely used as a standalone noun.

It's more common in formal settings like business meetings or news. In very casual talk, people might use simpler words like '变弱'.

Common ones include '严重' (seriously), '极大' (greatly), '逐渐' (gradually), and '进一步' (further).

It can be used for the 'immune system' (免疫系统) or 'strength' (体力), but for general physical frailty, '虚弱' is better.

No, it implies a reduction or undermining. If something is totally gone, you would use '消失' (disappear) or '毁灭' (destroy).

No. For prices, use '降低价格' (lower prices) or '削减成本' (reduce costs).