Translation guide
Ways to express reducing expenses or cutting costs in Japanese, from business contexts to everyday saving.
To talk about reducing costs or expenses in a company or organization.
The most common and direct equivalent for 'cost-cutting' in business. Refers to systematic reduction of costs.
会社はコスト削減に取り組んでいる。
The company is working on cost-cutting.
コスト削減のため、出張を減らした。
We reduced business trips for cost-cutting.
Specifically refers to cutting expenses or operational costs. Often used in corporate settings.
経費削減が急務だ。
Cutting expenses is an urgent task.
Loanword from English, used in business contexts. Slightly more casual than コスト削減.
コストカットを実施する。
Implement cost-cutting.
To talk about reducing personal spending or saving money in daily life.
General term for saving money or economizing. Used for personal finance, household budgeting, etc.
光熱費を節約する。
Cut down on utility bills.
節約して旅行に行く。
Save money to go on a trip.
Similar to 節約 but implies thriftiness and frugality as a lifestyle. Slightly more formal or literary.
Literally 'to keep down expenses'. A natural way to say 'cut spending'.
今月は出費を抑えたい。
I want to cut spending this month.
To express cutting unnecessary things, not just money, but also time or resources.
Means 'to eliminate waste'. Often used in efficiency contexts (e.g., lean manufacturing, time management).
会議の無駄を省く。
Cut waste in meetings.
Refers to rationalization or streamlining, often implying cost-cutting through efficiency improvements.
業務の合理化を進める。
Promote streamlining of operations.
To describe severe cost-cutting measures, often in response to a crisis.
Means 'drastic cost-cutting'. Used when the reduction is significant.
大幅なコスト削減が必要だ。
Drastic cost-cutting is necessary.
Refers to austerity or belt-tightening, often used in economic or fiscal policy contexts.
緊縮財政をとる。
Adopt austerity measures.
節約 is the everyday word for saving money or cutting back on spending. 倹約 implies a more principled, long-term frugality and is often used in phrases like 倹約家 (thrifty person).
節約して外食を減らす。
Cut back on eating out to save money.
倹約を心がけている。
I make a point of being frugal.
コスト削減 is a business term. Using it for personal saving sounds unnatural. Use 節約 or 出費を抑える instead.
彼女は倹約家だ。
She is a thrifty person.