Translation guide
The English word 'reduction' covers several related ideas: making something smaller or less, a decrease in amount, a discount, and more technical uses like chemical reduction or simplification. This guide helps you choose the right Japanese expression for each meaning.
Expressing that something has become smaller, fewer, or less in quantity.
A general term for a decrease or reduction in number, amount, or quantity. Often used in formal or written contexts.
人口の減少が続いている。
The population reduction continues.
売上の減少が問題だ。
The reduction in sales is a problem.
Implies a deliberate cutback or reduction, often used for budgets, costs, or staff. Stronger nuance of 'cutting down'.
経費を削減する必要がある。
We need to reduce expenses.
人員削減が発表された。
A staff reduction was announced.
Means reduction in scale, size, or scope. Often used for business operations, images, or physical size.
事業を縮小する。
To scale down the business.
画像を縮小して保存した。
I reduced the image size and saved it.
Often used in technical or formal contexts for reducing risk, burden, or negative factors. Less common in daily speech.
リスクの低減に努める。
We strive for risk reduction.
Talking about a reduction in price, a sale, or a markdown.
The most common word for a discount or price reduction. Used in shops and everyday conversation.
この商品は20%割引です。
This item is 20% off.
割引券を持っていますか？
Do you have a discount coupon?
Literally 'price lowering'. Refers to a reduction in price, often by the seller. Can be used as a noun or verb (値下げする).
Similar to 値下げ, but often implies a discount given on the spot, like haggling or a special deal.
Physically reducing the size of an object, or making a document/image smaller.
Transitive verb meaning to shorten, shrink, or reduce the length/size of something. For intangible things like time or distance as well.
スカートの丈を縮める。
To shorten the length of a skirt.
距離を縮める。
To reduce the distance.
A very common and versatile phrase meaning 'to make smaller'. Can be used for physical objects, images, portions, etc.
写真を小さくして送ってください。
Please reduce the photo size and send it.
Means compression, often used for data files or gases. Not for general size reduction.
Lowering the level of something like speed, volume, pain, or effort.
Transitive verb meaning to decrease or reduce something. Very common for weight, amount, frequency, etc.
To lower something like volume, temperature, price, or status. Often used for adjustable levels.
To suppress, hold down, or keep something in check. Used for emotions, costs, or growth.
In chemistry, a reaction where a substance gains electrons.
Reducing something complex to a simpler form, like a summary or essence.
Used in phrases like 利益還元 (returning profits) or 社会還元 (giving back to society). Can imply reduction to a fundamental form.
利益を社会に還元する。
To return profits to society (reduction to social benefit).
Means summary or abridgment. Reducing a text to its main points.
減少 is a neutral decrease in number/amount (often natural or statistical). 削減 implies intentional cutting (budgets, staff). 縮小 is about scale/size reduction (business, images). Use 減少 for general trends, 削減 for cuts, and 縮小 for downsizing.
English 'reduction' is often used in compound nouns like 'cost reduction' or 'noise reduction'. In Japanese, these are usually expressed with specific verbs or noun+verb phrases, not a single noun. For example, 'cost reduction' is コスト削減 or 経費削減, not just 減少.
The store reduced prices on all items.
Can you give me a little more discount?
ファイルを圧縮する。
To compress a file.
Please reduce the volume.
スピードを下げる。
To reduce speed.
怒りを抑える。
To suppress anger (reduce anger).
コストを抑える。
To keep costs down.
レポートを要約する。
To summarize (reduce) a report.