缩小 (suōxiǎo)

缩小 means "to narrow," "to reduce," or "to shrink" and describes making something smaller in size, scope, or difference.

Meanings

[verb] to reduce in size; to shrink; to make smaller
[verb] to narrow (a gap, difference, or range)

Example Sentences

请把这张图片缩小一点。 Qǐng bǎ zhè zhāng túpiàn suōxiǎo yīdiǎn. Please reduce this image a little.

两国之间的差距正在缩小。 Liǎng guó zhījiān de chājù zhèngzài suōxiǎo. The gap between the two countries is narrowing.

我们需要缩小调查范围。 Wǒmen xūyào suōxiǎo diàochá fànwéi. We need to narrow the scope of the investigation.

城乡收入差距逐渐缩小了。 Chéngxiāng shōurù chājù zhújiàn suōxiǎo le. The income gap between urban and rural areas has gradually narrowed.

Collocations

Collocation	Meaning
缩小差距	to narrow the gap
缩小范围	to narrow the scope
缩小规模	to reduce the scale
逐渐缩小	to gradually shrink

Usage Notes

缩小 is the opposite of 扩大 (kuòdà, to expand). It is used both for physical size (images, objects) and abstract concepts (gaps, differences, scope). It often appears in discussions about social inequality, economic development, or image editing.

Memory Hook

缩 (suō) means to shrink or contract, and 小 (xiǎo) means small: 缩小 literally "shrinks to small."