Translation guide
The English phrase "hold back" has several distinct meanings. This guide breaks them down into practical uses and provides natural Japanese equivalents for each.
To physically or metaphorically stop someone or something from advancing or acting.
General term for holding back, suppressing, or restraining something like emotions, actions, or physical force.
彼は怒りを抑えた。
He held back his anger.
To physically hold someone back from leaving; to detain or stop someone.
To hinder or obstruct progress; often used for abstract or physical barriers.
To forcibly stop someone from doing something, often by command or physical intervention.
警官が群衆を制止した。
The police held back the crowd.
To keep information, feelings, or something else from being known or given.
To hide or conceal information or feelings.
To stop oneself from doing something, often due to caution or reluctance.
To keep a student from advancing to the next grade or level.
To make a student repeat a year; to hold back a grade.
彼は成績不良で留年させられた。
He was held back a year due to poor grades.
To stop oneself from moving forward or reacting physically.
The English phrase "hold back" is often not directly translatable as a single Japanese word. Choose the verb that matches the specific meaning (restrain, hesitate, conceal, etc.).
抑える (osaeru) is for suppressing general things like anger or a crowd. こらえる (koraeru) is specifically for holding back physical reactions like laughter or tears.
彼女は彼を引き止めた。
She held him back (from leaving).
悪天候が救助活動を阻んだ。
Bad weather held back rescue efforts.
彼は真実を隠した。
He held back the truth.
To keep something secret or not disclose; often used for information.
詳細は伏せられた。
The details were held back.
To be stingy in giving or revealing; to hold back something valuable.
彼は情報を出し惜しんだ。
He held back information (grudgingly).
To refrain from saying something; to hold back words.
本当のことは言わずにおいた。
I held back from saying the truth.
To hesitate; to hold back from acting due to uncertainty.
彼は質問するのをためらった。
He held back from asking a question.
To hold back out of politeness or consideration for others; to refrain.
遠慮しないでください。
Please don't hold back (out of politeness).
To hold back one's full effort; to go easy on someone.
初心者には手加減した。
I held back against the beginner.
To refrain from doing; to hold back voluntarily.
発言を控えた。
I held back my comments.
To not promote to the next grade; literally 'not let advance'.
学校は彼を進級させなかった。
The school held him back.
To bear or suppress a physical urge like laughter, tears, or pain.
笑いをこらえた。
I held back my laughter.