缩

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to withdraw; to pull back; to contract; to shrink; to reduce; abbreviation; also pr. [su4]

Sound it out + =

Formation & memory

Break the character into parts you already know.

Phono-semantic compound (形声字)

纟 meaning “thread” + 宿 sound ( sù )

Components 纟宿

shrink · Heisig RSH #2389

thread + 宿 stay overnight

Keyword method from Heisig's Remembering Simplified Hanzi.

The most common words first — learning a character in context makes it stick.

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
缩成一团	suō chéng yī tuán	to huddle together; to curl up
缩微平片	suō wēi píng piàn	microfiche
热缩管	rè suō guǎn	heat shrink tubing (aka heatshrink) (shrinkable plastic tube used to insulate wires)
节衣缩食	jié yī suō shí	to save on food and clothing (idiom); to live frugally
缩衣节食	suō yī jié shí	to economize on clothes and food; to scrimp and save (idiom)
压缩机	yā suō jī	compactor; compressor
缩印本	suō yìn běn	compact edition (of a dictionary etc)
压缩器	yā suō qì	compressor
缩水	suō shuǐ	to shrink (in the wash); fig. to shrink (of profits etc)
缩小	suō xiǎo	to reduce; to decrease; to shrink
可压缩	kě yā suō	compressible
压缩比	yā suō bǐ	compression ratio
缩语	suō yǔ	abbreviated word; acronym
压缩包	yā suō bāo	(computing) compressed archive file
缩成	suō chéng	to shrink into
通缩	tōng suō	(economics) deflation (abbr. for 通貨緊縮\|通货紧缩[tong1 huo4 jin3 suo1])
解压缩	jiě yā suō	to decompress; decompression (esp. computer)
缩小模型	suō xiǎo mó xíng	miniature
首字母缩写	shǒu zì mǔ suō xiě	acronym
缩手缩脚	suō shǒu suō jiǎo	bound hand and foot (idiom); constrained

Characters sharing the sound component 宿 — compare how they read.

Character	Pinyin	Meaning
宿 sound part	sù	to stop, to rest, to lodge; constellation
蓿	xù	alfalfa, clover, lucerne