降低

jiàngdī: 降低 - To Lower, Reduce, Decrease

Quick Summary

  • Keywords: jiangdi, 降低, how to say reduce in Chinese, lower in Chinese, decrease price in Chinese, reduce costs, lower standards, jiang di meaning, Chinese verb for lower, HSK 4 vocabulary
  • Summary: Learn the essential Chinese verb 降低 (jiàngdī), which means “to lower,” “reduce,” or “decrease.” This versatile HSK 4 word is crucial for discussing topics from business and economics (lowering prices, reducing costs) to daily life (lowering the temperature, reducing risk). This guide breaks down its meaning, cultural context, and provides practical examples to help you master how to use `jiàngdī` correctly and avoid common mistakes.

Core Meaning

  • Pinyin (with tone marks): jiàng dī
  • Part of Speech: Verb
  • HSK Level: 4
  • Concise Definition: To cause something to become lower in level, degree, standard, or rate.
  • In a Nutshell: Think of `降低` as turning a dial down. It's the action of making something less. This can be a concrete action, like lowering the volume on a speaker, or an abstract one, like reducing the risk of a financial investment. It implies a scale (from high to low) and the movement towards the “low” end.

Character Breakdown

  • 降 (jiàng): This character means “to descend,” “to fall,” or “to go down.” Picture a flag being lowered or a plane landing. It signifies downward movement.
  • 低 (dī): This character simply means “low.” You can think of it as the opposite of “high,” referring to height, level, or quality.
  • Together, 降低 (jiàng dī) literally translates to “descend-low.” This combination creates a clear and direct verb that means to actively make something go down or become low.

Cultural Context and Significance

  • While `降低` doesn't carry the deep philosophical weight of a term like `关系 (guānxi)`, its frequent use is very telling about modern China's priorities. The term is ubiquitous in discussions about the economy, business, and personal development.
  • In a society focused on rapid economic growth and efficiency, the ability to `降低成本` (jiàngdī chéngběn - reduce costs) is a core principle of business strategy. You will hear and see this phrase constantly in news reports, company meetings, and financial analysis.
  • On a personal level, the concept of `降低要求` (jiàngdī yāoqiú - lowering one's standards or requirements) is a common topic of social discussion. This could relate to job hunting in a competitive market or finding a partner, reflecting the pragmatic adjustments people make to meet their goals.
  • Comparison to English: “Lower” or “reduce” are very close translations. However, `降低` is used as a standard verb across formal (economic reports) and informal (daily conversation) contexts, perhaps more broadly than the English “decrease.” The key is that `降低` always acts upon a level, rate, or standard, not a countable number.

Practical Usage in Modern China

  • Business and Economics: This is the most common context. It is used constantly to discuss prices, costs, risks, and interest rates.
    • e.g., `降低价格` (jiàngdī jiàgé) - to lower the price
    • e.g., `降低成本` (jiàngdī chéngběn) - to reduce costs
    • e.g., `降低风险` (jiàngdī fēngxiǎn) - to reduce risk
  • Daily Life: You'll use it for everyday adjustments.
    • e.g., `降低音量` (jiàngdī yīnliàng) - to lower the volume
    • e.g., `降低温度` (jiàngdī wēndù) - to lower the temperature
    • e.g., `降低速度` (jiàngdī sùdù) - to reduce speed
  • Abstract Concepts: It's also used for intangible things like standards, expectations, or difficulty.
    • e.g., `降低标准` (jiàngdī biāozhǔn) - to lower the standard
    • e.g., `降低难度` (jiàngdī nándù) - to reduce the difficulty
  • Formality and Connotation: `降低` is a neutral term. Its connotation depends entirely on what is being lowered. Lowering risk (`降低风险`) is positive, while lowering quality (`降低质量`) is negative. It is appropriate in both formal and informal speech.

Example Sentences

  • Example 1:
    • 为了吸引更多顾客，我们决定降低价格。
    • Pinyin: Wèile xīyǐn gèng duō gùkè, wǒmen juédìng jiàngdī jiàgé.
    • English: In order to attract more customers, we decided to lower the price.
    • Analysis: A classic business example. `降低` is the action verb performed on the object `价格` (price).
  • Example 2:
    • 公司的首要任务是降低生产成本。
    • Pinyin: Gōngsī de shǒuyào rènwù shì jiàngdī shēngchǎn chéngběn.
    • English: The company's first priority is to reduce production costs.
    • Analysis: This shows `降低` used in a formal business context. The object is `成本` (cost).
  • Example 3:
    • 医生建议他多运动来降低血压。
    • Pinyin: Yīshēng jiànyì tā duō yùndòng lái jiàngdī xuèyā.
    • English: The doctor advised him to exercise more to lower his blood pressure.
    • Analysis: A common example from the context of health. `血压` (blood pressure) is a level that can be lowered.
  • Example 4:
    • 天气太热了，请把空调温度降低两度。
    • Pinyin: Tiānqì tài rè le, qǐng bǎ kōngtiáo wēndù jiàngdī liǎng dù.
    • English: It's too hot, please lower the air conditioner's temperature by two degrees.
    • Analysis: Demonstrates a very practical, everyday use with the `把` (bǎ) structure, which highlights the disposal of the object (`温度` - temperature).
  • Example 5:
    • 在图书馆里，你应该降低说话的音量。
    • Pinyin: Zài túshūguǎn lǐ, nǐ yīnggāi jiàngdī shuōhuà de yīnliàng.
    • English: In the library, you should lower the volume of your voice.
    • Analysis: Here, the “level” being lowered is `音量` (volume).
  • Example 6:
    • 由于找不到理想的工作，他不得不降低自己的要求。
    • Pinyin: Yóuyú zhǎo bu dào lǐxiǎng de gōngzuò, tā bùdébù jiàngdī zìjǐ de yāoqiú.
    • English: Because he couldn't find an ideal job, he had no choice but to lower his requirements.
    • Analysis: An excellent example of using `降低` for an abstract concept, `要求` (requirements/standards).
  • Example 7:
    • 这种新材料可以有效降低火灾风险。
    • Pinyin: Zhè zhǒng xīn cáiliào kěyǐ yǒuxiào jiàngdī huǒzāi fēngxiǎn.
    • English: This new material can effectively reduce the risk of fire.
    • Analysis: Shows a positive use of `降低`, where reducing something (`风险` - risk) is a good outcome.
  • Example 8:
    • 为了让更多学生通过，老师降低了这次考试的难度。
    • Pinyin: Wèile ràng gèng duō xuéshēng tōngguò, lǎoshī jiàngdī le zhè cì kǎoshì de nándù.
    • English: In order to let more students pass, the teacher lowered the difficulty of this exam.
    • Analysis: `难度` (difficulty) is another abstract concept that exists on a high/low scale.
  • Example 9:
    • 我们不能为了速度而降低产品质量。
    • Pinyin: Wǒmen bù néng wèile sùdù ér jiàngdī chǎnpǐn zhìliàng.
    • English: We cannot lower product quality for the sake of speed.
    • Analysis: A negative example, showing that lowering the `质量` (quality) is undesirable.
  • Example 10:
    • 采取预防措施是降低事故发生率的关键。
    • Pinyin: Cǎiqǔ yùfáng cuòshī shì jiàngdī shìgù fāshēng lǜ de guānjiàn.
    • English: Taking preventative measures is the key to lowering the accident rate.
    • Analysis: Here `降低` is used with a rate (`发生率` - occurrence rate), another perfect use case.

Nuances and Common Mistakes

  • The most common mistake for learners is confusing `降低 (jiàngdī)` with `减少 (jiǎnshǎo)`. They can both be translated as “reduce,” but they are not interchangeable.
  • `降低 (jiàngdī)`: Use for level, standard, degree, or rate. Think of a scale.
    • Correct: `降低温度` (lower temperature), `降低价格` (lower price), `降低风险` (lower risk).
  • `减少 (jiǎnshǎo)`: Use for quantity, amount, or number. Think of countable things.
    • Correct: `减少错误` (reduce mistakes), `减少员工` (reduce the number of employees), `减少时间` (reduce time).
  • Example of a Mistake:
    • Incorrect: 为了省钱，公司决定降低员工数量。 (Wèile shěngqián, gōngsī juédìng jiàngdī yuángōng shùliàng.)
    • Why it's wrong: `员工数量` (number of employees) is a quantity, not a level. Using `降低` here sounds very unnatural. It's like saying “to lower the number of employees” in English, when “reduce the number” is much more common and correct.
    • Correct: 为了省钱，公司决定减少员工数量。 (Wèile shěngqián, gōngsī juédìng jiǎnshǎo yuángōng shùliàng.)

Related Terms and Concepts

  • Antonyms:
    • `提高 (tígāo)` - To raise, heighten, or improve. The direct opposite of `降低`, used for levels and standards (e.g., `提高质量` - improve quality).
    • `增加 (zēngjiā)` - To increase in number or quantity. The direct opposite of `减少` (e.g., `增加员工` - increase employees).
  • Synonyms / Similar Concepts:
    • `下降 (xiàjiàng)` - To decline, fall, or drop. Often used for things that change on their own, like prices or temperatures on a chart. `降低` often implies an agent is actively causing the reduction.
    • `减少 (jiǎnshǎo)` - To reduce, decrease in number or quantity. The key counterpart to `降低`.
  • Commonly Paired Nouns:
    • `成本 (chéngběn)` - Cost; a key concept in business often paired with `降低`.
    • `价格 (jiàgé)` - Price; what businesses `降低` to attract customers.
    • `标准 (biāozhǔn)` - Standard; can be lowered (`降低`) or raised (`提高`).
    • `风险 (fēngxiǎn)` - Risk; something everyone wants to `降低`.
    • `血压 (xuèyā)` - Blood pressure; a health metric that is often lowered.