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衰退 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
衰退shuāituìto declineHSK 7, v, rank #13707, Hard
衰退shuāituìto fallHSK 7, v, rank #13707, Hard
衰退shuāituìto dropHSK 7, v, rank #13707, Hard
衰退shuāituìto falterHSK 7, v, rank #13707, Hard
衰退shuāituìa declineHSK 7, v, rank #13707, Hard
衰退shuāituìrecession (in economics)HSK 7, v, rank #13707, Hard
shuāituì(shuai1tui4) T1
  1. 1to decline
  2. 2to fall
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March 24, 2026
衰退shuāituì(shuai1tui4)

衰退 (shuai1 tui4) refers to a decline or decrease in quality, quantity, or strength. It is commonly used in both general contexts, such as personal health or performance, and specific contexts like economics, where it describes a recession or downturn in economic activity.

Frequency#13707DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 衰退 is often reflected in discussions about aging and the economy's cyclical nature, emphasizing the importance of resilience and adaptation to changing circumstances.

Memory Tip

Imagine a frail old tree (衰) that is slowly losing its leaves (退), representing decline. The character 衰 reflects weakness or decline, while 退 means to retreat or fall back, reinforcing the idea of a downward trend.

Meanings of 衰退

shuāituì(shuai1tui4)
1to decline
2to fall
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 衰退

衰退Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#13707Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 衰退

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Podcast: 衰退

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AI Study Notes for 衰退

Quick Contrast

衰落 (shuāiluò) refers to a gradual decline or fall, often used in the context of civilizations or institutions, while 衰退 (shuāituì) focuses more on a decrease in quality or strength, making it more applicable to health or performance.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a frail old tree (衰) that is slowly losing its leaves (退), representing decline. The character 衰 reflects weakness or decline, while 退 means to retreat or fall back, reinforcing the idea of a downward trend.

Usage Notes

Be careful not to confuse 衰退 with other similar words like 下降 (xià jiàng), which means 'to drop' but can imply a more immediate action. The term is more formal and often used in economic discussions, so avoid using it in casual conversation.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK Level 6 word, 衰退 is important for discussing advanced topics, particularly in economics and health. Students should focus on understanding its applications in both contexts and may encounter it in news articles and academic texts.

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 衰退 is often reflected in discussions about aging and the economy's cyclical nature, emphasizing the importance of resilience and adaptation to changing circumstances.

Common Mistakes

Learners often misinterpret 衰退 as a synonym for 成长 (chéng zhǎng, 'growth'). For example, saying '经济衰退是好的' (Economic decline is good) is incorrect. Instead, use '衰退' to indicate a negative trend.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 衰退

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Component Characters

衰cuīmourning garments
HSK 610 strokes衣
View full entry
退tuìto retreat
HSK 59 strokes辶
View full entry

Write 衰退

衰
退

Practice writing 衰退 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Grammar Patterns of 衰退

衰退 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

通货膨胀的下降是长期经济____中的一线转机。

The fall in inflation is the silver lining of the prolonged recession.

Example Sentences for 衰退 (10)

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1
通货膨胀的下降是长期经济衰退中的一线转机。

tōng huò péng zhàng de xià jiàng shì cháng qī jīng jì shuāi tuì zhōng de yī xiàn zhuǎn jī。

The fall in inflation is the silver lining of the prolonged recession.
2
企业感受到了别处经济衰退带来的间接影响。

qǐ yè gǎn shòu dào le bié chǔ jīng jì shuāi tuì dài lái de jiān jiē yǐng xiǎng。

Businesses are feeling the indirect effects from the recession that'sgoing on elsewhere.
3
我们正在经历现代最严重的一段经济衰退。

wǒ mén zhèng zài jīng lì xiàn dài zuì yán zhòng de yī duàn jīng jì shuāi tuì。

We are in one of the most severe recessions in modern times.
4
投资可能会中断，而这会引起经济衰退。

tóu zī kě néng huì zhōng duàn， ， ér zhè huì yǐn qǐ jīng jì shuāi。

Investment could dry up and that could cause the economy to falter.
5
他不得不收回他说过的公司能免受经济衰退影响的话。

tā bù dé bù shōu huí tā shuō guò de gōng sī néng miǎn shòu jīng jì shuāi tuì yǐng xiǎng de huà。

He has had to eat his words about the company being recession-proof.
6
仅仅6个月前我还经营着自己的公司，经济衰退让公司关了门。

jǐn jǐn6 6 gè yuè qián wǒ huán jīng yíng zháo zì jǐ de gōng， sī ， jīng jì shuāi tuì ràng gōng sī guān。

Only six months ago I ran my own business. The recession put paid to that.
7
而且,在去年的经济衰退中,东德遭受的打击较轻.

ér qiě, , zài qù nián de jīng jì shuāi tuì, zhōng , dōng dé zāo shòu de dǎ jī.

And last year's downturn was softer in the east.
8
经济衰退导致数百万人失业。

jīng jì shuāi tuì dǎo zhì shù bǎi wàn rén shī yè。

Economic recession had thrown millions out of work.
9
在经济衰退期间，培训预算被认为是一项可以节省下来的奢侈费用。

zài jīng jì shuāi tuì qī jiān， ， péi xùn yù suàn bèi rèn wéi shì yī xiàng kě yǐ jié shěng xià lái de shē chǐ fèi。

During the recession, training budgets were seen as an expendable luxury.
10
目前的经济衰退是由消费支出骤跌引起的。

mù qián de jīng jì shuāi tuì shì yóu xiāo fèi zhī chū zhòu diē yǐn qǐ de。

The current recession was triggered by a slump in consumer spending.

Cultural Notes for 衰退

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the concept of 衰退 is often reflected in discussions about aging and the economy's cyclical nature, emphasizing the importance of resilience and adaptation to changing circumstances.

Frequently Asked Questions about 衰退

Yes, 衰退 can refer to personal decline in health or performance, not just economic situations.