Translation guide
To make something smaller, weaker, or less intense. Japanese uses different verbs depending on what is being lessened (pain, risk, amount, etc.).
To make physical or emotional pain, symptoms, or discomfort less severe.
General verb for softening or alleviating pain, symptoms, or harshness.
This medicine lessens the pain.
Formal term for reducing or mitigating something, often used for symptoms, burdens, or risks.
Please tell me how to lessen stress.
To calm or soothe pain, inflammation, or agitation. Often used in medical or poetic contexts.
It has the effect of lessening inflammation.
To make something less intense, strong, or large in amount.
Common verb for decreasing quantity, number, or degree.
I'm trying to lessen my salt intake.
To weaken or lessen the force, intensity, or power of something.
To cause a decline or lowering, often used for quality, ability, or levels.
Noise lessens concentration.
To mitigate or soften the impact, seriousness, or harshness of a situation, punishment, or statement.
To ease or relax restrictions, tensions, or harsh conditions.
There is a move to lessen regulations.
To make lighter or less heavy; can be used figuratively for burdens or punishments.
They lessened my punishment.
Also used for softening the tone or harshness of words or atmosphere.
To decrease or diminish on its own, without a direct agent.
Intransitive verb for quantity or number decreasing.
My appetite has lessened recently.
Intransitive verb for intensity or force weakening.
Intransitive verb for pain, tension, or harshness softening.
Many Japanese verbs for 'lessen' have transitive (～げる/～める) and intransitive (～がる/～まる) pairs. Use the transitive form when someone acts to lessen something, and the intransitive when it lessens by itself.
to lessen the pain (deliberately)
the pain lessens (on its own)
The English verb 'lessen' is broad. In Japanese, you must choose a verb that matches the specific thing being lessened. Using a generic word like 少なくする may sound unnatural for pain or intensity.
風の勢いが弱まった。
The wind lessened in strength.
He lessened the harshness of his words.
雨が弱まった。
The rain lessened.
痛みが和らいだ。
The pain lessened.