View source for Increase Decrease, Part 4A

This page is part of a [[Increase, Decrease|"Increase, Decrease" series]] on mastering all of the Chinese words related to these English terms. These words are especially helpful in discussing business at an upper intermediate (B2) level. 

This part focuses on the word pair 增加 (zēngjiā) and 减少 (jiǎnshǎo). Use the translations "increase" and "decrease."

== Transitive Verb Structure for 增加 / 减少 ==

Use 增加 or 减少 as  transitive verbs  (verbs that take objects) in this way:

<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + [ 增加 / 减少 ] + Obj.
</div>

=== Common Phrases ===

Some common  objects  to be used with 增加 or 减少 include:

<div class="liju dapei">
* <em>增加</em> 机会<span class="pinyin"><em> zēngjiā </em> jīhuì</span><span class="trans">increase opportunity</span>
* <em>减少</em> 困难<span class="pinyin"><em> jiǎnshǎo </em> kùnnan</span><span class="trans">reduce difficulty</span>
* <em>增加</em> 负担<span class="pinyin"><em> zēngjiā </em> fùdān</span><span class="trans">increase the burden </span>
* <em>减少</em> 压力<span class="pinyin"><em> jiǎnshǎo </em> yālì</span><span class="trans">reduce pressure </span>
* <em>减少</em> 吸引力<span class="pinyin"><em> jiǎnshǎo </em> xīyǐnlì</span><span class="trans">less attractive</span>

</div>

== Intransitive Verb Structure for 增加 / 减少 ==

Use 增加 or 减少 as  intransitive verbs  in this way:

<div class="jiegou">
Subj. + [ 增加 / 减少 ]
</div>

=== Common Phrases ===

Some common  objects  to be used with 增加 or 减少 include:

<div class="liju dapei">
* 机会 <em>增加</em><span class="pinyin">jīhuì <em> zēngjiā </em></span><span class="trans">opportunity increase</span>
* 困难 <em>减少</em><span class="pinyin">kùnnan <em> jiǎnshǎo </em></span><span class="trans">difficulty decrease</span>
* 负担 <em>增加</em><span class="pinyin">fùdān <em> zēngjiā </em></span><span class="trans">burden increases</span>
* 压力 <em>减少</em><span class="pinyin">yālì <em> jiǎnshǎo </em></span><span class="trans">stress reduction</span>
* 吸引力 <em>减少</em><span class="pinyin">xīyǐnlì <em> jiǎnshǎo </em></span><span class="trans">less attractive</span>
</div>

=== Example Sentences === 

<div class="liju">
* 中国 通过 很多 基础 建设，<em>增加</em> 了 很多 就业 <strong>机会</strong>。 <span class="pinyin">Zhōngguó tōngguò hěn duō jīchǔ jiànshè, <em> zēngjiā </em> le hěn duō jiùyè <strong> jīhuì </strong>.</span><span class="trans">China has created a lot of job opportunities through a lot of infrastructure construction.</span>
* 就业 <strong>机会</strong> <em>增加</em> 了，所以 社会 <strong>负担</strong> 减少 了。 <span class="pinyin">Jiùyè <strong> jīhuì </strong> <em> zēngjiā </em> le, suǒyǐ shèhuì <strong> fùdān </strong> jiǎnshǎo le.</span><span class="trans">Employment opportunities have increased, so the burden on society has decreased.</span>
* 汉字 难 写，也 不 好记，所以 <em>增加</em> 了 学习的 <strong>困难</strong>。 <span class="pinyin">Hànzì nán xiě, yě bù hǎo jì, suǒyǐ <em> zēngjiā </em> le xuéxí de <strong> kùnnan </strong>.</span><span class="trans">Chinese characters are difficult to write and memorize, which increases the difficulty of learning.</span>
* 我们 通过 和 现在 最 红 的 明星 合作，<em>增加</em> 了 对 消费者 的 <strong>吸引力</strong>。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒmen tōngguò hé xiànzài zuì hóng de míngxīng hézuò, <em> zēngjiā </em> le duì xiāofèizhě de <strong> xīyǐnlì </strong>.</span><span class="trans">We have increased our appeal to consumers by partnering with the hottest stars now.</span>
* 我们的 甜品 种类 太 少 了，我们 应该 <em>增加</em> 一些 <strong>种类</strong>。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒmen de tiánpǐn zhǒnglèi tài shǎo le, wǒmen yīnggāi <em> zēngjiā </em> yīxiē <strong> zhǒnglèi </strong>.</span><span class="trans">We have too few desserts, we should add some more.</span>
</div>

== Patterns Using 增加 with Object ==

=== Structure ===

<div class="jiegou">
增加 + [ 机会 / 压力 / 困难 / 负担 / 吸引力 ] 
</div>

=== Example Sentences === 

<div class="liju">
* 在 这里 又 新 建 了 一 个 工厂，<em>增加</em> 了 很多 <strong>就业 机会</strong>。 <span class="pinyin">Zài zhèlǐ yòu xīn jiàn le yī gè gōngchǎng, <em> zēngjiā </em> le hěn duō <strong> jiùyè jīhuì </strong>.</span><span class="trans">A new factory was built here, creating a lot of job opportunities.</span>
* 这个 城市 现在 资源 很 丰富，<em>增加</em> 了 对 外商的 <strong>吸引力</strong>。 <span class="pinyin">Zhège chéngshì xiànzài zīyuán hěn fēngfù, <em> zēngjiā </em> le duì wàishāng de <strong> xīyǐnlì </strong>.</span><span class="trans">The city is now rich in resources, increasing its attractiveness to foreign businessmen.</span>
* 成都 通过 网络 推广，<em>增加</em> 了 <strong>旅游 吸引力</strong>。 <span class="pinyin">Chéngdū tōngguò wǎngluò tuīguǎng, <em> zēngjiā </em> le <strong> lǚyóu xīyǐnlì </strong>.</span><span class="trans">Chengdu has increased its tourist attraction through online promotion.</span>
* <em>增加</em> <strong>就业 机会</strong> 是 一 件 很 重要的 事情。 <span class="pinyin"><em> zēngjiā </em> <strong> jiùyè jīhuì </strong> shì yī jiàn hěn zhòngyào de shìqing.</span><span class="trans">Increasing employment opportunities is a very important thing.</span>
* 现在 病人 越来 越 多，<em>增加</em> 了 医生的 <strong>压力</strong> 。 <span class="pinyin">Xiànzài bìngrén yuè lái yuè duō, <em> zēngjiā </em> le yīshēng de <strong> yālì </strong>.</span><span class="trans">There are more and more patients now, increasing the pressure on doctors.</span>
* 我 不 想 <em>增加</em> 父母的 <strong>负担</strong> ，所以 我 想 去 工作。 <span class="pinyin">Wǒ bù xiǎng <em> zēngjiā </em> fùmǔ de <strong> fùdān </strong>, suǒyǐ wǒ xiǎng qù gōngzuò.</span><span class="trans">I don't want to burden my parents, so I want to go to work.</span>
</div>

== Patterns Using 减少 with Object ==

=== Structure ===

<div class="jiegou">
减少 + [ 压力 / 困难 / 负担 ] 
</div>

Note:  It’s rare for 机会 or 吸引力 to appear in this structure.

=== Example Sentences === 

<div class="liju">
* 我们 怎么 样 才能 <em>减少</em> 我们的 <strong>压力</strong> ? <span class="pinyin">Wǒmen zěnme yàng cáinéng <em> jiǎnshǎo </em> wǒmen de <strong> yālì </strong>?</span><span class="trans">How can we reduce our stress ?</span>
* 政府 应该 <em>减少</em> 农民的 <strong>负担</strong> 。 <span class="pinyin">Zhèngfǔ yīnggāi <em> jiǎnshǎo </em> nóngmín de <strong> fùdān </strong>.</span><span class="trans">The government should reduce the burden on farmers .</span>
* 这样 做 并 没有 <em>减少</em> 困难,反而 增加 了 <strong>困难</strong> 。 <span class="pinyin">Zhèyàng zuò bìng méiyǒu <em> jiǎnshǎo </em> kùnnan, fǎnér zēngjiā le <strong> kùnnan </strong>.</span><span class="trans">This does not reduce the difficulty, it increases it.</span>
</div>