General noun and suffix for reduction or decrease in amount, number, or degree. Often used in compounds like 人員減 (staff reduction) or 体重減 (weight loss).
今年の予算は前年比で10％の減となった。
This year's budget decreased by 10% compared to the previous year.
この部署は人員減が続いている。
This department continues to see a reduction in staff.
Mathematical term for subtraction. Often used in arithmetic contexts.
減の計算を練習した。
I practiced subtraction calculations.
reduction of penalty (ritsuryō)
Archaic legal term referring to the reduction of a penalty under the ritsuryō codes. Not used in modern Japanese.
律令制では、罪の減刑を「減」と呼んだ。
Under the ritsuryō system, a reduction of punishment was called 減.
Sales were down 10% year-on-year.
今年の収穫量は去年より2割減となった。
This year's harvest was down 20% from last year.
減 means a decrease or reduction while 増 means an increase or addition, and both appear as suffixes attached to numbers or nouns (e.g. 3割減 vs 3割増).
加 refers to adding or increasing (as in 増加), while 減 refers to subtracting or decreasing (as in 増減); both are bound forms used in compounds.
decrease; reduction; decline
degree; extent; amount · (health) condition; state of health · adjustment; moderation; regulation · addition and subtraction · slight sign of ...; a touch of ... · just right for ...; suitable for ...
cut; reduction; curtailment
reduction; mitigation; alleviation
irresponsible; careless; perfunctory · half-baked; halfhearted; vague · enough already; cut it out · quite; rather; pretty
The kanji 減 is composed of 氵 (water) and 咸 (all, together), suggesting the idea of diminishing or lessening. The reading げん is the on'yomi.
weight loss; weight reduction · reduction in quantity; decrease in amount
decrease; reduction; mitigation
reduction; cut; decrease
tax reduction; tax cut
increase and decrease; fluctuation
point deduction; subtracting points · points deducted; deduction
decompression; pressure reduction
decline; decrease; loss
attenuation; damping; decay
reduction of penalty; commutation of sentence
reduction or exemption; mitigation or remission
pay cut; salary reduction
price reduction; depreciation; abatement
reduction; cutback; retrenchment
decrease in income; fall in revenue
subtraction
decrease; diminution; loss; impairment
production cut; decrease in production; output reduction
decrease; be reduced; grow less · reduce; lessen; cut down · subtract; deduct; take off
sharp decrease; rapid drop; plunge
decrease in profits; profit decline
reduction; cutback; contraction