Translation guide
The English verb 'stifle' covers several related ideas: suppressing something (a feeling, sound, action), suffocating someone, or feeling unable to breathe. This guide organizes Japanese expressions by these core meanings, from most common to more specific uses.
To hold back or stop yourself from expressing something like a laugh, yawn, cry, anger, or impulse.
General verb meaning 'to suppress' or 'to hold back'. Used for feelings, sounds, and actions. Very common and natural.
I struggled to stifle my laughter.
I couldn't stifle my anger.
To endure or hold back something that wants to come out, like tears, laughter, or a yawn. Often used with physical reactions.
I stifled a yawn.
She stifled her tears and kept talking.
Literally 'push and kill', meaning to suppress forcefully. Often used for voices or emotions, implying a strong effort.
He spoke in a stifled voice.
Literally 'bite and kill', used specifically for stifling a yawn or laugh by clenching one's teeth. Somewhat literary.
I stifled a yawn (by clenching my teeth).
To cause someone to be unable to breathe, often by covering the mouth and nose, or by being in a stuffy environment.
To experience difficulty breathing due to heat, lack of air, or tightness.
To prevent something from developing or being expressed, such as creativity, debate, or economic growth.
Both mean 'to suppress', but 抑える is more general and can be used for emotions, sounds, or actions. こらえる is specifically for holding back something that is about to burst out physically, like tears, laughter, or yawns. 抑える can also mean 'to control' or 'to keep in check' in a broader sense.
Avoid directly translating 'stifle' as 窒息させる unless you mean literal suffocation. For suppressing a yawn or laugh, use 抑える or こらえる. Using 窒息させる for a yawn would sound bizarre.
The culprit stifled the victim by covering their mouth.
Excessive regulations are stifling economic growth.