Translation guide
A reduction in speed, pace, or activity. In Japanese, this concept is expressed through various nouns, verbs, and set phrases depending on whether the slowdown is intentional, natural, economic, or metaphorical.
To describe a decrease in speed or pace in general contexts, such as work, movement, or progress.
Noun or suru-verb meaning 'deceleration' or 'slowing down'. Used for vehicles, machines, or abstract processes.
景気の減速が懸念されている。
The economic slowdown is a concern.
車はカーブの手前で減速した。
The car slowed down before the curve.
Loanword from English, used as a noun or suru-verb. Common in business, technology, and sports contexts.
作業のスローダウンが発生した。
A slowdown in work occurred.
Wasei-eigo meaning 'pace down'. Used for slowing down in sports, work, or life rhythm.
仕事のペースダウンを図る。
To plan a slowdown in work pace.
Noun meaning 'dulling' or 'slowing down', often used for economic trends or growth rates.
経済成長の鈍化が問題だ。
The slowdown in economic growth is a problem.
Means 'stagnation' or 'standstill', implying a more severe slowdown or halt. Used for economies, negotiations, or personal progress.
交渉が停滞している。
Negotiations are at a standstill.
To describe a deliberate reduction in work speed as a form of protest or strategy.
Loanword from French 'sabotage', often used for intentional slowdowns or work stoppages in labor disputes.
労働組合がサボタージュを行った。
The labor union carried out a slowdown.
Literally 'negligent work', a formal term for a work slowdown or go-slow strike.
To express the act of making something slower or becoming slower.
Literally 'to drop speed'. Common for vehicles or physical movement.
ここで速度を落としてください。
Please slow down here.
To ease off the speed. Used for driving or running.
カーブでスピードを緩めた。
I slowed down at the curve.
To drop the pace. Used in sports, work, or life rhythm.
疲れたのでペースを落とした。
I was tired, so I slowed down my pace.
Transitive verb meaning 'to delay' or 'to slow down' a process or schedule.
減速 is the standard Japanese term for deceleration in physical or abstract senses. スローダウン is a direct loanword often used in business or tech contexts. ペースダウン is a wasei-eigo phrase more common in casual speech about personal pace.
Directly translating 'Slow down!' as 「遅くしろ！」 is unnatural and rude. Use 「速度を落として」 or 「ゆっくり走って」 for driving, or 「落ち着いて」 for speaking pace.
A slowdown tactic was adopted.
Work-to-rule: strictly following all regulations to cause a slowdown. Specific to labor disputes.
順法闘争で業務が遅れた。
Work slowed down due to a work-to-rule protest.
計画を遅らせる要因。
Factors that slow down the plan.