Translation guide
To reduce, cut short, or limit something. Japanese uses different verbs depending on what is being curtailed: time, spending, rights, activities, etc.
To make something smaller in amount, especially expenses or output.
General term for cutting down or reducing something like costs, budget, or staff. Common in business and formal contexts.
会社は経費を削減する必要がある。
The company needs to curtail expenses.
To cut back or economize, often on living expenses or budget. Implies tightening one's belt.
生活費を切り詰めなければならない。
We have to curtail our living expenses.
To scale down or reduce the scale of operations, production, etc.
生産を縮小することを決めた。
They decided to curtail production.
To make something shorter in duration; to end earlier than planned.
To shorten or reduce the length of time, distance, or a document.
会議の時間を短縮した。
We curtailed the meeting time.
To end something earlier than scheduled, like a meeting or workday.
会議を30分早く切り上げた。
We curtailed the meeting by 30 minutes.
To terminate or cut off abruptly, often used for projects, programs, or broadcasts.
To impose limits on what someone can do.
To restrict, limit, or place restrictions on something. Very common.
新しい法律が私たちの自由を制限している。
The new law is curtailing our freedom.
To suppress, hold back, or keep something in check. Often used for emotions, but also for activities or growth.
政府はインフレを抑えようとしている。
The government is trying to curtail inflation.
To regulate or control through rules, often by authorities.
政府はその産業を厳しく規制している。
The government strictly curtails that industry.
削減する is for reducing amounts (budget, staff), while 短縮する is for shortening time or length (meeting, working hours).
There is no single Japanese verb that covers all uses of 'curtail'. Always choose the verb based on what is being reduced or limited.
支出を削減する必要があります。
We need to curtail our spending.
時間の都合でスピーチは短縮された。
The speech was curtailed due to time constraints.
The program was curtailed due to budget cuts.