Translation guide
How to express making something shorter in length, duration, or text in Japanese.
shorten (general)
shorten (time, formal)
shorten (text, omit)
shorten (abbreviate)
Reduce the length of a physical object, like a rope, skirt, or hair.
General phrase meaning 'to make short'. Use for physical objects.
I shortened the skirt.
To shorten or shrink something, often implying making it more compact. Used for things like distances, strings, or hair.
To cut down or shorten by cutting, often used for trimming plants or cutting cloth.
Reduce the time something takes, like a meeting, trip, or process.
Also used for time. Very versatile.
Reduce the length of written or spoken content, like an article, speech, or name.
Works for text as well. Simple and direct.
Create a shorter form of a word or expression, like an acronym or contraction.
To abbreviate. Common for shortening words or phrases.
短くする is the most general and can be used for physical length, time, or text. 短縮する is formal and mainly for time or schedules. 縮める implies making something more compact and is often used for physical objects or distances.
shorten pants
Can you shorten this dress?
髪を縮めてもらえますか？
Could you shorten my hair?
I shortened the branches.
Let's shorten the meeting time.
Formal term for shortening time or duration. Common in business or official contexts.
We will shorten business hours.
Can be used for time as well, though less common than 短縮する for formal situations.
Is there a way to shorten the waiting time?
Please shorten this text more.
To omit or abbreviate. Used when shortening by leaving parts out.
Long names are often shortened.
To summarize or condense. Implies shortening while keeping key points.
I summarized the report and shortened it.
Can be used for text length, but less common than 短くする or 省略する.
I have to shorten my speech.
We shorten 'smartphone' to 'sumaho'.
Also means to abbreviate, often interchangeable with 略す.
'Arubaito' is often shortened to 'baito'.
Can be used for abbreviating words, but more formal and less common than 略す.
This term is used in a shortened form.
労働時間を短縮する
shorten working hours
shorten the distance
When you mean 'abbreviate' as in making a shorter form of a word, use 略す or 省略する. 短くする would sound like you are physically shortening the word itself, which is unnatural.
We need to shorten the meeting.
Please shorten the article to 500 words.