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.
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.
A spirit of self-restraint is required.
A common verbal phrase meaning 'to restrain oneself', used in everyday conversation.
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.
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.
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.
I'm refraining from alcohol.
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.
He restrained his emotions and spoke calmly.
Specifically refers to the mental faculty of self-control, often used in psychological or self-help contexts.
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.
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.
You should exercise self-restraint in making inappropriate remarks.
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.
Endure the pain.
Exercise self-restraint over desires.
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.