Translation guide
How to express the idea of economising in Japanese, covering saving money, cutting costs, and being frugal.
The general act of reducing expenses or being thrifty.
The most common and versatile way to say 'to economise' or 'to save money'. Used for cutting down on expenses in daily life.
電気代を節約するために、エアコンを使わない。
I don't use the air conditioner to economise on electricity bills.
Similar to 節約する but often implies a more disciplined, frugal lifestyle. Slightly more formal.
彼は若い頃から倹約して家を買った。
He economised from a young age and bought a house.
Used mainly in business contexts to mean 'cut costs' or 'reduce expenses'.
会社は経費を削減するために、出張を減らした。
The company reduced business trips to economise on expenses.
Emphasising the mindset of not wasting resources, often in daily habits.
Literally 'eliminate waste'. A natural way to express economising by cutting out unnecessary spending or usage.
水道の無駄を省いて、節水に協力しましょう。
Let's economise on water by eliminating waste.
A noun phrase meaning 'frugal mindset' or 'tendency to economise'. Often used in marketing or describing consumer behavior.
最近の消費者は節約志向が強い。
Consumers these days have a strong tendency to economise.
Economising in a broader sense, not just money.
To make more efficient, thereby economising on time or resources. Common in work or process improvement.
作業を効率化して時間を節約した。
We economised on time by streamlining the work.
To omit or skip something in order to save time, effort, or money. Often used in the form ～を省く.
無駄な手順を省いて、コストを下げた。
We economised by cutting out unnecessary steps and lowered costs.
節約 (setsuyaku) is the everyday word for saving money or cutting back. 倹約 (ken'yaku) implies a more principled, often long-term frugality and can sound slightly formal or old-fashioned. For most situations, 節約 is the safer choice.
There is no single Japanese verb that covers all uses of 'economise'. Using 経済化する (keizaika suru) is not natural. Instead, choose a phrase based on what is being saved: money, time, effort, etc.
食費を節約する必要がある。
We need to economise on food expenses.
彼女はお弁当を持参して節約した。
She economised by bringing lunch from home.