Translation guide
The feeling of being held back or restricted from acting naturally, or the act of suppressing impulses. In Japanese, this is expressed through nouns describing shyness, restraint, or psychological blocks, as well as verbs for holding back.
The feeling of being unable to act freely due to self-consciousness or social pressure.
He held back and said nothing out of consideration.
Feeling intimidated or losing confidence in front of others, leading to inhibition.
I felt inhibited in front of the large crowd.
Shyness or bashfulness as a personality trait; describes someone who is naturally inhibited.
She is shy and dislikes going to parties.
Sense of shame or embarrassment that inhibits behavior; more formal and psychological.
If you have a strong sense of shame, you can't speak in public.
The act of consciously holding back urges, emotions, or behaviors.
Control or suppression of something; used for emotions, desires, or biological processes.
It's difficult to suppress anger.
Oppression or psychological repression; often used in Freudian contexts or for social suppression.
To endure or put up with something; implies inhibiting a desire or reaction.
I want to eat it, but I'll hold back.
To exercise self-control; more formal and deliberate than 我慢.
He exercised self-control and quit drinking.
The state of being free from inhibitions, often due to alcohol or personality.
Lacking restraint; describes someone who acts without considering others.
He has no inhibitions and speaks bluntly.
To act without reserve or hesitation; feeling comfortable enough to be uninhibited.
To become open and uninhibited, often in a social setting.
抑制 (suppression) is for controlling internal impulses or external processes, while 遠慮 (restraint) is social and involves holding back out of politeness. Use 抑制 for psychological or scientific contexts, and 遠慮 for everyday social situations.
The English word 'inhibition' is often used in psychology or casual speech about shyness. Direct translations like インヒビション are not natural. Instead, choose a word based on the specific nuance: shyness (内気), social restraint (遠慮), or impulse control (抑制).
感情の抑圧は健康に悪い。
Repression of emotions is bad for your health.
Since we're close friends, I can talk without inhibition.
I become uninhibited when I drink alcohol.