减少 (jiǎnshǎo) is a transitive verb meaning 'to decrease' or 'to reduce' — it describes the action of making something smaller in amount, number, intensity, or frequency. The first character 减 (jiǎn) means 'to subtract' or 'to lessen', and the second 少 (shǎo) means 'few' or 'little'; together, they form a compound verb emphasizing reduction toward a smaller quantity. It’s commonly used with measurable nouns — such as time, cost, pollution, risk, or calories — and often appears in formal, written, or policy-related contexts (e.g., environmental reports, health advice, or business plans).

减少 typically requires an object (e.g., 减少压力, 减少浪费), and cannot stand alone without specifying what is being reduced. It is neutral in register but sounds more formal or deliberate than colloquial alternatives like 缩小 or 降. While 少 can be pronounced shào in other contexts (e.g., 少年), here it is always shǎo — a common pronunciation pitfall for learners.