Translation guide
The English verb 'refrain' means to stop yourself from doing something you want to do. In Japanese, this is expressed through verbs of endurance, negative requests, or grammatical patterns for abstention.
To voluntarily stop oneself from doing an action, often out of politeness, self-control, or social expectation.
I'm refraining from eating sweets.
Please refrain from speaking.
Means 'to refrain out of consideration for others'. Often used when declining offers or avoiding actions that might inconvenience others.
I'll refrain from drinking alcohol.
Please don't refrain from speaking your mind.
Means 'to endure' or 'to put up with'. It implies refraining from something you strongly desire, often with a sense of hardship.
I'm refraining from smoking (even though I want to).
A general pattern meaning 'to make an effort not to do ~'. It's less formal than 控える and can be used in daily conversation.
I try to refrain from eating late at night.
A formal, literary term meaning 'to be prudent' or 'to refrain'. Often used in official announcements or written admonitions.
Please refrain from making insensitive remarks.
To resist a personal urge or break a habitual action.
Asking or telling someone not to do something, often politely.
Standard polite negative request: 'Please refrain from ~'. Direct but polite.
Please refrain from taking photos here.
A polite, formal phrase used in public signs or announcements: 'Please refrain from ~'. Often seen as 〜はご遠慮ください.
Please refrain from smoking.
A softer, polite request: 'We ask that you refrain from ~'. Common in announcements.
控える is a general 'refrain' out of prudence or self-restraint. 遠慮する specifically involves consideration for others. 我慢する implies enduring something unpleasant or desired. Choose based on the nuance of self-denial.
English 'refrain' often translates to a negative request pattern (〜ないでください) rather than a single verb. Avoid direct translations like リフレインする, which is not used in Japanese.
I couldn't refrain from laughing.
涙をこらえた。
I refrained from crying.
We ask that you refrain from using mobile phones in the restroom.