Definition
回笼 is a separable verb (离合词) with two distinct meanings. One is literal: 'to steam again' (e.g., reheating leftover steamed buns). The other is financial: 'to withdraw currency from circulation' (e.g., the central bank pulling money out of the economy). When used in the financial sense, it often appears in formal or economic contexts. As a separable verb, elements like 了 or measure words can go between 回 and 笼, e.g., 回了笼.
v.o.
to steam again (reheat food that was previously steamed)(finance) to withdraw (currency) from circulation
Examples
- ,回笼。Mántou liáng le, xūyào huí lóng yíxià.The steamed buns are cold; they need to be steamed again.
- 回笼。Yāngxíng juédìng huí lóng huòbì yǐ kòngzhì tōnghuò péngzhàng.The central bank decided to withdraw currency from circulation to control inflation.
- 。Zhèxiē bāozi yǐjīng huí le liǎng cì lóng le.These buns have been steamed again twice already.
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