Translation guide
The English verb "reduce" covers many meanings: making something smaller in size, amount, or intensity; lowering price or speed; simplifying; or even boiling down a liquid. Japanese uses different verbs depending on what is being reduced and how. This guide organizes the most useful equivalents by meaning.
To make something smaller in quantity, level, or intensity (e.g., reduce costs, reduce speed, reduce stress).
General verb for reducing quantity, number, or frequency. Often used for things like expenses, weight, or waste.
We need to reduce expenses.
Let's make an effort to reduce waste.
To lower something (price, volume, temperature, etc.). Often implies a deliberate action to bring something down.
Could you reduce the price?
Please reduce the volume.
Intransitive: to decrease, to become less. Use when the subject itself is reduced (e.g., population decreases).
The population is decreasing.
Formal term for cutting down or reducing, often used in business or policy contexts (budget cuts, staff reductions).
The government plans to reduce the budget.
To suppress, keep down, or control (e.g., reduce speed, suppress emotions, keep costs low).
Please reduce your speed while driving.
To physically shrink something or make it more compact (e.g., reduce the size of a photo, reduce a swelling).
Literally "make small." The most straightforward way to say reduce in size.
Please reduce the size of the photo and send it.
Formal term for scaling down, reducing in scale (e.g., reduce the scale of a project, reduce an image).
Reduce the scale of the business.
To compress (files, data) or reduce volume by pressure. Technical.
I'll compress the file and send it.
To reduce something to its essential parts or a simpler state (e.g., reduce a problem to its core, reduce a fraction).
To reduce a sauce or liquid by boiling to concentrate flavor.
To boil down, reduce by simmering. Common in cooking.
Reduce the sauce until it is halved.
To reduce one's body weight.
減らす is the most general 'reduce' for quantity/number. 下げる is for lowering something that has a level (price, volume, temperature). 削減する is formal and often used for budgets or staff cuts.
English 'reduce' can often be replaced by more specific verbs in Japanese. For example, 'reduce speed' is naturally スピードを落とす or 減速する, not just 減らす. Always consider what is being reduced.
We need to reduce our carbon footprint.
Can you reduce the price a little?