Chinese word

缓和

Pronunciation

Pinyinhuǎn hé

Meaning

  • verbease

Example

两国关系因为谈判逐步缓和。liǎng guó guān xì yīn wèi tán pàn zhú bù huǎn hé

Relations between the two countries gradually eased through negotiations.

Illustration for 缓和 (ease)

More examples

他的笑话暂时缓和了会议的气氛。tā de xiào huà zàn shí huǎn hé le huì yì de qì fēn

His joke temporarily softened the atmosphere at the meeting.

Core concept

A tense or intense condition is brought down toward a calmer, less forceful state.

Common phrases

  • 缓和气氛huǎn hé qì fēn

    soften the atmosphere

  • 缓和冲突huǎn hé chōng tū

    ease the conflict

Similar words

缓解huán jiě: Reduce pain, tension, or the effects of a problem, bringing relief.
减轻jiǎn qīng: Make a burden, hardship, or suffering less heavy or severe.

Definition in Chinese

使紧张、激烈或严重的情况变得温和或轻微，使情绪、关系或局势逐步平静或减轻。shǐ jǐn zhāng jī liè huò yán zhòng de qíng kuàng biàn de wēn hé huò qīng wēi shǐ qíng xù guān xì huò jú shì zhú bù píng jìng huò jiǎn qīng

Word origin

缓和 (huǎnhé, "ease") is a transparent compound of 缓 (huǎn, "slow or loosen") and 和 (hé, "harmony"), joining reduced force with a return to balance.

Usage tips

  • The verb can describe either a cause that reduces tension or a situation that grows calmer, so it may appear with an object or with the changing situation as the subject.

Other meanings

  • alleviateverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word