Translation guide
How to express 'turn down' in Japanese, covering rejecting offers, lowering volume/light/heat, and folding or flipping something downward.
The most common meaning: to say no to a proposal, invitation, or request.
To reduce the level of sound, light, heat, etc.
To bend or fold something so it points or hangs down, like a collar, brim, or page corner.
While 'turn down' is natural in English, Japanese uses verbs like 下げる (sageru) or 小さくする (chiisaku suru) for volume. Avoid literal translations like 回して下げる (mawashite sageru) unless you are physically turning a dial.
音量を下げてください。
Please turn down the volume.
断る (kotowaru) is the general word for declining offers or invitations. 拒否する (kyohi suru) is stronger and more formal, often used for rejecting demands, proposals, or official requests. Use 断る in daily conversation.
友達の誘いを断った。
I turned down my friend's invitation.
デートに誘ったけど断られた。
I asked her out but she turned me down.
音楽の音量を下げてくれる？
Can you turn down the music?
彼は仕事のオファーを断った。
He turned down the job offer.
The standard verb for refusing or declining something. Can be used in most situations.
彼の申し出を断った。
I turned down his offer.
誘いを断るのは難しい。
It's hard to turn down an invitation.
Polite/humble form of 断る. Use in formal situations or when speaking to superiors.
今回はお断りさせていただきます。
I'm afraid I must turn it down this time.
Literally 'say no'. A direct way to express refusal, often used in casual contexts.
彼はきっぱりとノーと言った。
He flatly turned it down.
Stronger, more formal word for 'refuse' or 'reject'. Often used for official or serious rejections.
会社は要求を拒否した。
The company turned down the demand.
Literally 'kick'. Slang for rejecting something bluntly, like 'shoot down'.
彼女にデートを蹴られた。
She turned me down for a date.
General verb for 'lower' something. Used with volume, temperature, etc.
音量を下げてください。
Please turn down the volume.
エアコンの温度を下げた。
I turned down the air conditioner temperature.
Literally 'make small'. Very common for turning down volume.
テレビの音を小さくして。
Turn down the TV volume.
To weaken or reduce intensity. Used for light, power, etc.
明かりを弱めてください。
Please turn down the lights.
Literally 'squeeze' or 'narrow down'. Used for turning down a gas flame or water flow.
ガスの火を絞る。
Turn down the gas flame.
To fold back or turn down. Used for cuffs, collars, brims, etc.
襟を折り返す。
Turn down the collar.
帽子のつばを折り返した。
I turned down the brim of my hat.
Simple verb for 'fold' or 'bend'. Can be used for turning down a page corner.
ページの角を折る。
Turn down the corner of the page.
To turn something face down or upside down. Used for cards, cups, etc.
カードを伏せて置く。
Turn down the card (place it face down).
政府は要求を拒否した。
The government turned down the demand.
政府は要求を拒否した。
The government turned down the demand.