减弱
jiǎn ruò · HSK 7
to weaken
📉 减 reduce + 弱 weak = reduce + weak = weaken, fall off
Both characters pull downward: 减 means subtract/reduce and 弱 means weak or feeble. Stack them and the strength gets subtracted away, so a signal, force, or sound 减弱 weakens and falls off.
减 — water 氵 + 咸 (xián, all/salty)
A semantic-phonetic compound. The water radical 氵 gives the meaning, originally suggesting water decreasing or draining away, while 咸 supplies the sound (jiǎn shifted from xián). From 'water lessening' the sense broadened to 'reduce, subtract, diminish' in general use.
弱 — two 弓 (bows) + two 彡 (feathers/strokes)
Originally depicted two bent bows with drooping feathers or fine hairs, suggesting something pliant and weak. The doubled 弓 emphasizes flexibility, while 彡 evokes delicate, thin strands. The image of a soft, bending bow extended to mean 'weak,' 'frail,' or 'young.'