減

A phono-semantic compound composed of:

水 (수, “water”) → gives the meaning (connection to liquid or the act of lessening/diluting);

咸 (함, “all, entire”) → provides the sound.

The idea is that adding water dilutes or lessens the intensity of something — leading to the extended sense of “to reduce.”

It appears in common compounds like:

감소 (減少) — decrease; reduction

감액 (減額) — reduction of amount

감산 (減算) — subtraction

감량 (減量) — weight loss; reduction

삭감 (削減) — cutback (more forceful reduction)

가감 (加減) - addition and subtraction

減 often implies intentional, controlled reduction, not accidental loss.

In East Asian thought, 減 is associated with moderation, especially in governance and self-discipline.

In mathematics, it forms the core verb for subtraction across Chinese, Korean, and Japanese.

Related characters:

加 — to add

削 — to cut (cutting away)

省 — to economize

減 — neutral reduction

少 — being few

乏 — lacking

增 — to increase (antonym)

In classical literature, 減 frequently appears in contexts of:

- reducing excess

- moderation

- easing burdens on the people

This aligns with Confucian ideals of balance and restraint.

Historical-administrative usage:

減稅 — tax reduction

減刑 — reduction of punishment

Such terms are common in legal and governmental documents from imperial China onward.