Translation guide
The English verb "diminish" covers several related ideas: becoming smaller or less, making something smaller or less, and causing something to seem less important. Japanese uses different words and patterns for these meanings, and often distinguishes between intransitive (something diminishes) and transitive (someone diminishes something).
To describe something decreasing in size, intensity, amount, or importance on its own.
General intransitive verb for a quantity, number, or amount decreasing. Very common.
The population is diminishing.
貯金がどんどん減った。
My savings diminished rapidly.
Literally "become small". Used for physical size or scale diminishing.
遠くで車が小さくなっていった。
The car diminished in the distance.
Intransitive verb for intensity, strength, or power weakening or diminishing.
風が次第に弱まった。
The wind gradually diminished.
痛みが弱まった。
The pain diminished.
Formal/slightly technical intransitive verb for a decline in quality, ability, or level.
集中力が低下した。
My concentration diminished.
Intransitive verb for a gradual decline in power, health, or vitality. Often used for people or institutions.
彼の体力は衰え始めた。
His physical strength began to diminish.
To describe someone or something causing a decrease in size, intensity, amount, or importance.
General transitive verb for reducing a quantity, number, or amount. Very common.
経費を減らす必要がある。
We need to diminish expenses.
砂糖の量を減らした。
I diminished the amount of sugar.
Literally "make small". Used for physically reducing size.
画像を小さくしてください。
Please diminish the image size.
Transitive verb for weakening intensity, strength, or power.
Formal transitive verb for causing a decline in quality, ability, or level.
その政策は生活水準を低下させた。
The policy diminished the standard of living.
To belittle, downplay, or reduce the perceived worth of something.
To underestimate or undervalue; to diminish the importance of something.
彼の貢献を過小評価してはいけない。
Don't diminish his contribution.
To make light of, disregard, or treat as unimportant.
その問題を軽視してはならない。
We must not diminish the importance of that issue.
To disparage or belittle, often with malice. Stronger and more literary.
Specialized uses in economics, law, or technical fields.
The economic principle of diminishing returns. Technical term.
収穫逓減の法則
the law of diminishing returns
Legal term for diminished responsibility/capacity. Very specific.
彼は限定責任能力を主張した。
He pleaded diminished responsibility.
Japanese often distinguishes between something diminishing on its own (減る) and someone actively diminishing something (減らす). Using the wrong one is a common mistake.
While 小さくなる works for physical size, using it for abstract concepts like "hope diminished" sounds unnatural. Use 希望が薄れた (きぼうがうすれた) or 希望が消えた (きぼうがきえた) instead.
彼の影響力は年々弱まっている。
His influence has diminished over the years.
薬を飲んだら痛みが和らいだ。
The pain diminished after taking the medicine.
和らぐ (やわらぐ) is a natural alternative for pain or feelings subsiding.
何ものも彼女の熱意をそぐことはできなかった。
Nothing could diminish her enthusiasm.
そぐ is often used with 勢い (momentum) or 熱意 (enthusiasm).
彼は声を弱めた。
He diminished his voice.
彼はいつも他人の業績を貶めようとする。
He always tries to diminish other people's achievements.