Translation guide
The English verb "quell" covers suppressing emotions, stopping unrest, and quieting doubts. Japanese uses different verbs depending on what is being quelled.
To hold back or calm a strong feeling like anger, fear, or excitement.
General verb for suppressing or holding back emotions, urges, or impulses. Very common and natural.
I struggled to quell my anger.
He couldn't quell his laughter.
To calm or soothe emotions, often with a nuance of quieting something agitated. Slightly more literary than 抑える.
She tried to quell her fear.
To appease or pacify strong emotions, often used in formal or literary contexts. Can also be used for calming physical pain or spiritual unrest.
Quell one's inner turmoil.
To stop violent or disruptive collective action by force or authority.
Standard term for suppressing riots, rebellions, or insurrections by force. Often used in news reports.
The police quelled the riot.
The government sent troops to quell the rebellion.
Can also mean to quell unrest or disturbances, but less forceful than 鎮圧する. Often implies calming rather than crushing.
To remove or alleviate mental unease, suspicion, or worry.
To dispel or wipe away doubts, fears, or concerns. Common in formal and written contexts.
His explanation quelled my doubts.
To ease or alleviate anxiety. A softer, more everyday expression than 払拭する.
The news quelled my anxiety.
Can be used for quieting mental unrest, but less common for abstract doubts. More for emotional agitation.
抑える (osaeru) is the most general for suppressing emotions or urges. 鎮める (shizumeru) implies calming or pacifying, and can be used for emotions or unrest but is less forceful. 鎮圧する (chin'atsu suru) specifically means to suppress by force, used for riots and rebellions.
Avoid directly translating "quell" with a single Japanese word in all contexts. For example, 鎮圧する for emotions would sound unnatural. Always match the verb to what is being quelled.
騒ぎを鎮める。
Quell the disturbance.
心配を静める。
Quell one's worries.