Translation guide
The English word "regressive" can describe a return to an earlier state, a backward movement, or a tax system that disproportionately affects lower incomes. This guide helps learners express these ideas naturally in Japanese.
Describing a process, behavior, or policy that moves backward or reverts to a previous condition.
Means 'to go backward' or 'to regress'. Commonly used for trends, policies, or movements that reverse progress.
その政策は時代に逆行している。
That policy is regressive, going against the times.
Often used in medical or psychological contexts for regression, such as a patient's condition worsening or reverting to an earlier developmental stage.
患者の症状が退行した。
The patient's symptoms regressed.
Means 'to retreat' or 'to fall back'. Can be used for physical movement or metaphorical regression, like economic decline.
経済が後退している。
The economy is regressing.
Literally 'to go back the way one came'. Used for reverting to a previous state, often with a negative nuance of undoing progress.
改革が逆戻りしてしまった。
The reforms have regressed.
Referring to a tax that takes a larger percentage from low-income earners than from high-income earners.
The standard term for 'regressive tax system'. 逆進的 means 'regressive' in the sense of moving backward or inversely progressive.
消費税は逆進的な税制だと言われる。
Consumption tax is said to be a regressive tax system.
A shorter term for 'regressive tax'. Used in economic contexts.
逆進税は低所得者に負担が大きい。
Regressive taxes place a heavy burden on low-income earners.
Describing physical or metaphorical backward movement, such as in evolution or flow.
Means 'backward-facing' or 'retrograde'. Often used for attitudes or policies that are not forward-looking.
彼の考え方は後ろ向きだ。
His way of thinking is regressive.
Adjectival form of 退行, meaning 'regressive' in a technical or formal sense, such as in biology or sociology.
その種は退行的な進化を遂げた。
The species underwent regressive evolution.
Do not use 逆行する or 後退する for regressive tax. Use 逆進的 (ぎゃくしんてき) or 逆進税 (ぎゃくしんぜい) instead.
逆行 (ぎゃっこう) is general 'going against the flow' or 'reversing course'. 退行 (たいこう) is often medical/psychological regression. 後退 (こうたい) is retreat or decline, often used in economic or military contexts.