Translation guide
The act of making something seem smaller, less important, or less serious than it really is. In Japanese, this concept is expressed through various verbs, adverbs, and phrases that convey reducing, downplaying, or belittling.
To make a problem, mistake, or situation seem less significant or serious.
A common phrase meaning 'it's not a big deal' or 'it's nothing serious'. Used to downplay a situation.
そのミスは大したことではない。
That mistake is not a big deal.
To make light of, to belittle, or to underestimate. Often used in formal or written contexts.
彼は問題を軽視している。
He is downplaying the problem.
To minimize or trivialize, often used in academic or critical contexts. Literally 'to dwarf'.
その記事は事件を矮小化している。
The article is minimizing the incident.
To make something physically smaller or to reduce a quantity to the minimum.
To minimize in a literal sense, such as minimizing a window on a computer or reducing something to its smallest form.
ウィンドウを最小化してください。
Please minimize the window.
To keep to a minimum; to reduce as much as possible. Used for costs, risks, etc.
コストを最小限にする必要がある。
We need to minimize costs.
To reduce, scale down, or shrink. Often used for scale, size, or scope.
事業の規模を縮小する。
To downsize the business.
To express something in a way that makes it seem less extreme, often for politeness or indirectness.
An adverb meaning 'a little' or 'slightly', often used to soften statements or requests, effectively minimizing the impact.
ちょっと難しいかもしれません。
It might be a little difficult. (understating)
A pattern meaning 'not very' or 'not much', used to downplay adjectives or verbs.
あまり良くないです。
It's not very good. (minimizing negativity)
While 最小化する is correct for technical contexts, using it to mean 'downplay' in conversation can sound unnatural. Use phrases like 大したことではない or 軽視する instead.
彼は自分の失敗を大したことではないと言った。
He said his mistake was no big deal.