动 shorten; cut down; cut short (opp.  延长): |
| | 缩短距离 reduce the distance; narrow the gap |
| | 缩短学制 shorten the period of schooling |
| | 缩短战线 contract the front; narrow the scope of an activity |
| | 把报告缩短一半 cut a report down to half its length |
| | 把停留时间缩短一天 cut short one's stay by one day |
| | 缩短中国在经济技术上同发达国家之间的差距 narrow the economic and technological gaps between China and the developed countries |
| | 期限从五天缩短到三天。 The time allowed has been reduced from 5 to 3 days. |
