Translation guide
The English verb 'suppress' covers a range of meanings from holding back emotions to actively preventing something from happening or being expressed. Japanese uses different words depending on what is being suppressed and the context.
To hold back or control a feeling, desire, laugh, yawn, etc.
The most common and versatile verb for suppressing emotions, urges, or physical reactions. Can be used for anger, laughter, tears, pain, etc.
Suppress one's anger.
I couldn't suppress my laughter.
Often used for enduring or holding back tears, laughter, or physical needs. Implies a conscious effort to keep something inside.
To endure or put up with something unpleasant, including suppressing one's own desires or reactions. More about patience and tolerance.
Suppress the pain. (Endure the pain.)
To prevent something from becoming known or public; to cover up.
To hide or conceal information, facts, or evidence. The most direct equivalent for suppressing the truth.
The company tried to suppress the scandal.
To hush up or cover up a scandal or incident, often implying active efforts to prevent it from becoming public. Common in news contexts.
To suppress or oppress, often used for suppressing freedom of speech or information by authority. More formal and forceful.
The government suppressed the media reports.
To put down or quell an uprising, dissent, or resistance by force or authority.
To suppress or quell a riot, rebellion, or protest, typically by force. The standard term for military or police action.
The army suppressed the rebellion.
Can also be used for suppressing opposition or dissent, but less forceful than 鎮圧する. Often implies controlling rather than crushing.
To reduce or eliminate unwanted sound, interference, or electronic signals.
General term for suppressing noise or sound. Can be used in everyday and technical contexts.
Suppress noise.
To erase or turn off sound completely. Often used for muting or eliminating noise.
Technical term for suppression, often used in electronics, signal processing, or medical contexts (e.g., suppressing a signal or symptom).
A circuit that suppresses noise.
To inhibit or reduce the effect of a medical condition or biological function.
Commonly used for suppressing symptoms or the progression of a disease. Works in everyday medical contexts.
Medicine to suppress a cough.
More formal/technical term for inhibiting or suppressing biological processes, often used in medical or scientific writing.
Suppress the immune response.
抑える (おさえる) is the most general and can be used for emotions, sounds, symptoms, and abstract things. 抑制する (よくせいする) is more formal and often used in technical, medical, or official contexts. 鎮圧する (ちんあつする) is specifically for suppressing riots, rebellions, or uprisings by force.
抑圧する (よくあつする) means 'oppress' or 'suppress' in a political or psychological sense (e.g., suppressing freedom or memories). It is not used for holding back a yawn or noise.
事件はもみ消された。
The incident was suppressed (hushed up).
反対意見を抑える。
Suppress opposing opinions.
Suppress (eliminate) static/noise.