Common word› JLPT N4 › Freq. Frequency Top 10,000 Conjugation 減らす · godan verb (-su)
Form Positive Negative Dictionary 減へ らす 減へ らさない Polite 減へ らします 減へ らしません Past polite 減へ らしました 減へ らしませんでした Past 減へ らした 減へ らさなかった Te-form 減へ らして 減へ らさないで Desire 減へ らしたい 減へ らしたくない Potential 減へ らせる 減へ らせない Passive 減へ らされる 減へ らされない Causative 減へ らさせる 減へ らさせない Causative passive 減へ らさせられる 減へ らさせられない Volitional 減へ らそう Polite volitional 減へ らしましょう Imperative 減へ らせ 減へ らすな Conditional 減へ らせば 減へ らさなければ Tara conditional 減へ らしたら 減へ らさなかったら
Pairs with 減る › Usage patterns 体たい 重じゅう を 減へ らす to lose weight
I exercised and lost weight.
経けい 費ひ を 減へ らす to cut expenses
The company decided to cut expenses.
人じん 員いん を 減へ らす to reduce staff/personnel
Due to the recession, the company reduced its staff.
少すこ しずつ 〈 物もの 〉 を 減へ らす to gradually reduce something little by little
I'm gradually reducing the amount I eat.
Kanji 減 dwindle, decrease, reduce Transitive / intransitive Related words· 6 削減する is a formal, often bureaucratic word for cutting things like budgets or staff, whereas 減らす is the everyday general verb for reducing anything.
減じる is a literary/formal synonym of 減らす , used less often in everyday conversation.
減らす is a general verb for lowering a quantity or number, while 削る implies actively cutting or scraping away something (often excess or waste).
減らす specifically means to reduce a quantity or number, whereas 下げる has a broader range including price, volume, and rank.
Show 2 more Show fewer 減らす focuses on reducing quantity or amount, whereas 低める focuses on reducing height, level, or degree.
減らす focuses on decreasing quantity or amount, whereas 引き下げる emphasizes lowering a set level such as a price or rate.
Opposites increase; add to; augment
減らす is the transitive verb for decreasing something, the direct opposite of the transitive use of 増す .
Word family reducing the number of dependents; mouths to feed reduction
wear away; rub down; abrade
personnel cut; workforce reduction; layoff
decrease stitch; decreasing stitches
Etymology Causative/transitive form of 減る (heru, 'to decrease'), from Old Japanese. The kanji 減 means 'decrease' or 'reduce'.
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