删减 (shān jiǎn) is a compound verb meaning 'to cut down' or 'to reduce', especially in reference to written, spoken, or digital content—such as text, audio, video, or data. The first character 删 (shān) means 'to delete' or 'to strike out', while the second 减 (jiǎn) means 'to decrease' or 'to lessen'. Together, they emphasize intentional, often editorial, reduction—not just removal but trimming for concision, clarity, or compliance (e.g., with length limits or censorship guidelines). It implies purposeful editing rather than accidental omission.

This word is commonly used in publishing, media production, academic writing, and software interfaces (e.g., 'content moderation tools'). It’s formal and neutral in register—appropriate in professional, educational, and official contexts—but rarely used in casual speech about everyday objects or quantities (e.g., you wouldn’t say 删减 food or time; use 减少 instead). It frequently appears in passive constructions or with objects indicating what is being shortened: e.g., 删减字数 (reduce word count), 删减镜头 (cut scenes).