Chinese word

衰退

Pronunciation

Pinyinshuāi tuì

Meaning

  • verbweaken

Example

他的免疫力开始衰退，需要休息。tā de miǎn yì lì kāi shǐ shuāi tuì xū yào xiū xī

His immunity is beginning to weaken, and he needs to rest.

Illustration for 衰退 (weaken)

More examples

经济增长放缓后，地区性小企业逐渐衰退。jīng jì zēng zhǎng fàng huǎn hòu dì qū xìng xiáo qǐ yè zhú jiàn shuāi tuì

After economic growth slowed, small local businesses gradually declined.

Core concept

A gradual slide from a former level of strength, force, health, or amount toward a lower one.

Common phrases

  • 经济衰退jīng jì shuāi tuì

    economic decline

  • 行业衰退háng yè shuāi tuì

    industry decline

  • 市场需求衰退shì chǎng xū qiú shuāi tuì

    declining market demand

Similar words

衰减shuāi jiǎn: Gradually weaken while decreasing in amount, especially for a signal or force.
减退jiǎn tuì: Gradually fade in strength, interest, influence, or intensity.
下降xià jiàng: Go down in position, numerical value, or degree.

Definition in Chinese

表示某种力量、状态或数量从原本的程度逐步下降或减弱。biǎo shì móu zhǒng lì liàng zhuàng tài huò shù liàng cóng yuán běn de chéng dù zhú bù xià jiàng huò jiǎn ruò

Word origin

衰 (shuāi, "to weaken") + 退 (tuì, "to retreat") combines the ideas of losing strength and moving backward into a gradual downward process.

Usage tips

  • This word is especially common in formal descriptions of health, economies, populations, and institutions, so it can sound more report-like than casual conversation.

Other meanings

  • declinenoun
  • weaknessnoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word