Translation guide
The English verb 'subdue' covers a range of meanings from physically overpowering someone to suppressing emotions or making something less intense. Japanese uses different words depending on what is being subdued and how.
To physically defeat, restrain, or conquer a person, enemy, or animal using strength or authority.
To subdue by force, often used for military/police actions or suppressing riots. Implies gaining complete control.
The police subdued the rioters.
To suppress or quell a rebellion, riot, or uprising. Stronger nuance of crushing resistance.
The military subdued the rebellion.
To physically restrain or pin down a person, often used for apprehending a criminal.
The security guard subdued the suspicious person.
To conquer or subjugate a country or people. Implies complete domination.
The Roman Empire subdued many nations.
To bring an internal feeling under control, often through willpower.
To suppress, hold back, or keep something in check. Commonly used for emotions, desires, or impulses.
I struggled to subdue my anger.
To calm or soothe strong emotions like anger or excitement. Often implies a gentle or careful approach.
To control or restrain something, often used in formal or psychological contexts.
It's difficult to subdue one's emotions.
To reduce the strength, volume, or vividness of something like light, color, sound, or flavor.
To soften, moderate, or tone down. Used for light, color, sound, pain, etc.
Please subdue the lighting.
Also used for reducing intensity, similar to suppressing. Can apply to volume, brightness, etc.
Literally 'to drop/lower', used colloquially for turning down volume or dimming lights.
To clear, cultivate, or bring wild land under control for human use.
All three can mean 'suppress', but 抑える is the most common and versatile for holding back emotions or impulses. 鎮める implies calming something that is already agitated, like anger or excitement. 抑制する is more formal and often used in psychological or technical contexts.
English 'subdue' is often used figuratively (subdued lighting, subdued mood). Direct translation with 征服する or 制圧する would sound violent or unnatural. Use 和らげる or 抑える for softening intensity.
He couldn't subdue his curiosity.
彼女は興奮を鎮めようとした。
She tried to subdue her excitement.
He subdued his voice.
音量を抑えてください。
Please subdue the volume.
Subdue the music volume.
They subdued the forest to make fields.