How to Say "Minus" in Chinese

减

jiǎn

In Chinese, the word for the mathematical term 'minus' is 减 (jiǎn).

减 is used as a verb to denote the mathematical operation of subtraction.

Meaning: mathematics: less (prep)

Which one should you use?

减 is used as a verb for the operation of subtraction (minus), whereas 负 is used as an adjective to describe a negative number.

In Chinese mathematical equations, the word 得 is used to mean 'equals' or 'results in' after the subtraction operation.

jiǎn

When talking about discounts or 'minus 20%', Chinese speakers use the word 折 instead of 减, where 八折 actually means '80% of the original price'.
In ancient Chinese counting rods, the physical act of 'minus' involved removing a rod from the board, a tactile process that mirrors the meaning of 减.
In the context of weight loss, Chinese speakers use 减 as a shorthand for 减肥, which literally translates to 'subtract fat'.

八减四得四。
Eight minus four is four.
This sentence is useful for seeing how to use 减 in a subtraction equation.
Tatoeba #7772581 by jiangche, translation #6616411 by shekitten
七减二是五。
Seven minus two is five.
Tatoeba #10002489 by BobbyLee, translation #7977018 by deniko
17减3等于14。
17 minus 3 equals 14.
-8 大于 -10。
-8 is greater than -10.
我得减去这个数。
I have to subtract this number.
扣除税款后，我的工资是多少？
After deducting taxes, what is my salary?
十减三等于七。
shí jiǎn sān děng yú qī.
Ten minus three equals seven.

A boy is helping a girl with a math problem.

俊杰 Junjie

这个算式怎么做？
zhè ge suàn shi zen me zuo?
How do you do this formula?
佳怡 Jiayi

九减五等于四。
jiǔ jiǎn wǔ děng yú sì.
Nine minus five equals four.
俊杰 Junjie

原来是这样，谢谢你。
yuán lái shì zhè yàng, xiè xie nǐ.
So that's how it is, thank you.
佳怡 Jiayi

不客气。
bú kè qi.
You're welcome.

Sources

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