Definition

1. Verb:
   • To reduce (through economy or thrift): The primary meaning of "tiết giảm" is to lessen or decrease something, specifically by cutting back, economizing, or practicing frugality. It implies a deliberate and careful reduction to save resources.
   • To curtail / to cut down: It means to make something smaller in amount, degree, or size, often in a planned or systematic way to improve efficiency or save money.

Usage Examples

• Verb:
  • Công ty cần tiết giảm chi phí sản xuất. (The company needs to reduce production costs.)
  • Chúng ta nên tiết giảm việc sử dụng điện. (We should curtail our use of electricity.)
  • Chính phủ đang tìm cách tiết giảm ngân sách. (The government is looking for ways to cut down the budget.)

Advanced Usage

• "tiết giảm tối đa": to minimize, to reduce to the maximum extent.
  • Chúng tôi phải tiết giảm tối đa các khoản không cần thiết. (We must minimize all unnecessary expenses.)

Variants and Related Words

• Tiết kiệm (v): to save, to economize. While "tiết kiệm" focuses on saving (e.g., money, resources), "tiết giảm" focuses on the act of reducing.

  • Tiết kiệm nước là rất quan trọng. (Saving water is very important.)

• Cắt giảm (v): to cut, to slash. This is a stronger synonym, often used for more severe or abrupt reductions.

  • Họ sẽ cắt giảm nhân sự. (They will cut the workforce.)

Synonyms

• Reduce: to make smaller or less in amount.
• Curtail: to reduce or limit something.
• Cut down: to reduce the size, amount, or number of something.

Related Idioms

• Tiết giảm chi tiêu: to reduce/cut spending. This is a common collocation.
  • Mùa dịch, nhiều hộ gia đình phải tiết giảm chi tiêu. (During the pandemic season, many households had to cut their spending.)