<p>Funnily enough《规范》has a note on its entry for 缓解 that says:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>注意 跟“缓和”不同。“缓解”侧重指“减轻”或“使减轻”; “缓和”侧重指“平和”或“使平和”。</p>
</blockquote>

<p>A rough translation:</p>

<p>Note: it is different from “缓和”. “缓解” emphasizes alleviation or mitigation; “缓和” highlights “calming” or  “mildness.”</p>

<p><strong>Oxford</strong> provides some examples that we can compare:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>缓解食品短缺状况 
  alleviate the food shortage </p>
  
  <p>缓解痛苦 
  allay a pain </p>
</blockquote>

<p>and</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>缓和紧张局势 
  relax the tension </p>
  
  <p>形势有所缓和。 
  Things have eased up a bit. </p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-02T12:16:32.577Z
2018-05-02T12:16:32.577Z
Mou某
<p>So, one can 缓解压力 and one can 缓和紧张局势. Can you 缓和压力 or 缓解紧张局势?
If not, why not? :-) I guess if you say it enough, it becomes true, right? 
Many thanks,
Hashamyim (incidentally, not my real name lol)</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-05-02T12:59:23.517Z
for answer see online dictionaries, esp. usage examples, esp.bkrs：缓和  #6253 1) v. relax; ease up; mitigate; appease
他试图缓和紧张的气氛。 He tried to ease the tension.
2) n. détente; calm; moderate; mild, much more!

缓解 #4693
huạ̌njiě
1) mitigate; alleviate; ease; relieve
他的病情有些缓解。 His illness eased a bit.
2) relax,  much more!
user6065
<word-choice>
缓解 vs. 缓和 - are the true synonyms/同义词?
# 缓解 vs. 缓和 - are the true synonyms/同义词?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-05-02)

So, one can 缓解压力 and one can 缓和紧张局势. Can you 缓和压力 or 缓解紧张局势?
If not, why not? :-) I guess if you say it enough, it becomes true, right?
Many thanks,
Hashamyim (incidentally, not my real name lol)

**Tags:** word-choice
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: for answer see online dictionaries, esp. usage examples, esp.bkrs：缓和  #6253 1) v. relax; ease up; mitigate; appease 他试图缓和紧张的气氛。 He tried to ease the tension. 2) n. détente; calm; moderate; mild, much more!  缓解 #4693 huạ̌njiě 1) mitigate; alleviate; ease; relieve 他的病情有些缓解。 His illness eased a bit. 2) relax,  much more!  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2018-05-02. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

Funnily enough《规范》has a note on its entry for 缓解 that says:

> 注意 跟“缓和”不同。“缓解”侧重指“减轻”或“使减轻”; “缓和”侧重指“平和”或“使平和”。

A rough translation:

Note: it is different from “缓和”. “缓解” emphasizes alleviation or mitigation; “缓和” highlights “calming” or “mildness.”

**Oxford** provides some examples that we can compare:

> 缓解食品短缺状况
> alleviate the food shortage
>
> 缓解痛苦
> allay a pain

and

> 缓和紧张局势
> relax the tension
>
> 形势有所缓和。
> Things have eased up a bit.


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