Han character 縮

It means to shrink, shorten, contract, or draw back.

The earliest known dictionary record is in the Shuowen Jiezi, a Chinese character dictionary compiled around 100 AD; its explanation links 縮 to binding with cord. The entry gives its small-seal form, an older formal writing style.

Classical Chinese examples use it for binding, retreat, shortness, contraction, insufficiency, and even vertical direction. Modern Chinese keeps the senses of reduction, compression, shortening, and binding; Japanese also extends physical shrinking to social recoil.

What does 縮 mean in Japanese?

In Japanese, it means shrinking, shortening, or drawing back.

Japanese uses it in verbs for becoming smaller or making something smaller. 縮小 reduces scale; 短縮 shortens length or time; 畏縮 describes drawing back in fear; 恐縮 can express apology or deference.

What does 縮 mean when someone sends it?

Usually, 縮 is incomplete without the Chinese or Japanese word around it.

縮小 signals reduction; 伸縮 pairs extension with contraction; 恐縮 can express apology or deference. A lone 縮 is not a reliable mood signal.

The same character appears in Chinese and Japanese writing, so 縮 alone does not identify which language the sender is using. Check the surrounding characters.