Translation guide
The controlled distribution of scarce resources, goods, or services. In Japanese, this is expressed through specific nouns and verbs depending on whether it refers to wartime/food rationing, general allocation, or limiting consumption.
To refer to government-controlled distribution of limited supplies, especially food, fuel, or daily necessities during war or crisis.
The standard term for rationing of goods or food by authorities. Often used in historical contexts (e.g., WWII) or disaster situations.
During the war, food rationing was carried out.
The rationing system ended.
Refers specifically to the rationing system or regime.
Living under the rationing system was tough.
Ration tickets or coupons used to obtain rationed goods.
I received rice with ration tickets.
To describe the act of distributing a finite amount of something (time, money, space) among people or uses.
Allocation, assignment, or quota. Used for distributing tasks, budgets, or resources. Not limited to emergency contexts.
The budget allocation is too small.
Distribution or apportionment, often with a sense of fair sharing. Used for dividing resources among recipients.
Similar to 割り当て, but often implies scheduling or assigning time slots or duties.
To express the idea of voluntarily restricting how much one uses or consumes something.
To economize, save, or cut down on usage. Commonly used for saving money, electricity, water, etc.
I go to bed early to save electricity.
I'm cutting down on food expenses.
To restrict or limit. More formal and can be used for rules or self-imposed limits.
I'm limiting my sugar intake.
To refrain from, hold back, or moderate. Often used for abstaining from something for health or discipline.
配給 implies an authority distributing scarce goods. For personal saving or cutting back, use 節約 or 制限.
割り当て focuses on assigning a fixed amount to each person/group (like a quota), while 配分 emphasizes the act of dividing and handing out. In many business contexts they overlap.
Rationing of gasoline was introduced during the oil crisis.
We need to ration our water supply carefully.
Assign tasks to each department.
利益の配分を決める。
Decide the distribution of profits.
シフトの割り振りを確認する。
Check the shift assignments.
酒を控えている。
I'm cutting back on alcohol.