Translation guide
To deliberately choose not to do something, often for health, moral, or religious reasons. In Japanese, the expression depends on what you are abstaining from and the context.
To refrain from consuming something, especially for health, diet, or religious reasons.
General verb meaning 'to refrain from' or 'to hold back'. Commonly used for food, drink, smoking, etc.
I'm abstaining from alcohol.
Please abstain from sweets.
Stronger, more decisive 'to cut off' or 'to give up'. Often used for quitting a habit completely.
I decided to abstain from smoking.
Same reading as 断つ, but implies severing or cutting off completely. Used in more dramatic or literary contexts.
Abstain from alcohol and devote oneself to training.
To choose not to do something, often for moral, practical, or personal reasons.
To choose not to vote in an election or decision.
To refrain from sexual relations, often for moral, religious, or health reasons.
控える is the most common and versatile for 'abstain' in daily life. 断つ implies a decisive break, often from a bad habit. 慎む carries a nuance of self-restraint out of respect or caution, and is more formal.
There is no single Japanese verb that covers all uses of 'abstain'. Using アブステインする is not natural. Choose the expression based on what you are abstaining from.
Let's abstain from unnecessary remarks.
More formal version of 控える. Often used in official or polite requests.
I will abstain from commenting.
不謹慎な発言は慎んでください。
Please abstain from making insensitive remarks.