shrink

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 縮 has 17 strokes and expresses shrinking or contraction.
• Basic usage: 縮む is read ちぢむ, and 伸縮 is read しんしゅく.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 縮む and 伸縮
  • 縮む means to shrink or to contract.
  • 洗った服が乾燥機の熱で縮んだ。 means “The washed clothes shrank in the heat of the dryer.”
  • 伸縮 means expansion and contraction or stretch.
  • この布は伸縮しやすく、模型にかぶせやすい。 means “This fabric stretches well, making it easy to fit over the model.”