Translation guide
The ability to control one's own impulses, desires, or emotions, often in social or moral contexts.
Expressing the concept of holding back one's own desires or impulses in a general sense.
The most direct and common translation for self-restraint, used in both formal and everyday contexts.
彼はどんな状況でも自制を失わない。
He never loses his self-restraint in any situation.
A more literary or philosophical term for self-denial or self-mastery, often used in contexts of moral discipline.
克己の精神が求められる。
A spirit of self-restraint is required.
A common verbal phrase meaning 'to restrain oneself', used in everyday conversation.
怒りを感じたが、自分を抑えた。
I felt anger, but I restrained myself.
Describing the act of holding back from doing something tempting, like overeating or overspending.
Refers to moderation or temperance, especially regarding physical desires like food, drink, or spending.
健康のために節制する。
I practice self-restraint for my health.
A very common verb meaning to endure or put up with something, often used for restraining oneself from immediate desires.
ダイエット中だから、甘いものは我慢する。
I'm on a diet, so I'll restrain myself from sweets.
Means to refrain from or hold back on something, often used in polite or formal contexts.
Controlling one's emotions, such as anger or excitement, especially in social interactions.
Literally 'to suppress emotions', a natural way to express emotional self-restraint.
彼は感情を抑えて冷静に話した。
He restrained his emotions and spoke calmly.
Specifically refers to the mental faculty of self-control, often used in psychological or self-help contexts.
自制心を養うことが大切だ。
It's important to cultivate self-restraint.
Exercising restraint in accordance with social norms, ethics, or to avoid conflict.
Refers to restraint out of consideration for others, often translated as 'reserve' or 'discretion'. It's a key concept in Japanese social behavior.
遠慮して何も言わなかった。
Out of self-restraint, I didn't say anything.
A formal verb meaning to be discreet or to refrain from something out of modesty or respect.
我慢 (gaman) implies enduring something unpleasant, often with a sense of patience or perseverance. 自制 (jisei) is more about active self-control and is closer to the English 'self-restraint' in a psychological sense.
Avoid directly translating 'self-restraint' as 自己抑制 (jiko yokusei) in most contexts. While technically correct, it sounds overly clinical and is rarely used in natural conversation.
お酒を控えています。
I'm refraining from alcohol.
不適切な発言を慎むべきだ。
You should exercise self-restraint in making inappropriate remarks.