Translation guide
How to express 'cutting down' in Japanese, covering reducing amounts, felling trees, and downsizing.
To decrease consumption, spending, or how often you do something.
General verb for reducing quantity, frequency, or degree. Transitive.
I'm cutting down on alcohol.
You should cut down on sugar.
To refrain from or cut back on something, often for health or discipline. Implies self-restraint.
I'm cutting down on sweets.
The doctor told me to cut down on smoking.
To economize or cut down on expenses. Often used for saving money or resources.
To cut down on electricity bills, I'm turning off the AC.
Formal term for cutting down, often used in business or policy contexts (e.g., budget cuts, emission reductions).
The company plans to cut down on expenses.
To cut down a tree or plant.
To cut down the size, scale, or number of something like a company or project.
減らす is a general reduction; 控える implies voluntary restraint, often for health or manners. Use 控える when you are holding back from something you want.
Reduce alcohol (decrease the amount)
Cut down on alcohol (refrain from drinking / reduce frequency)
Do not use 切る (kiru) alone for 'cutting down' on habits or expenses; it means physically cutting. Use the verbs above instead.