間ま引びく

godan verb (-ku), transitive verb

thin out; cull

Primarily used for plants, seedlings, or crops: removing some to give the remaining ones more space and resources.

• 大だい根こんの芽めを間ま引びいて、大おおきく育そだつようにした。

  I thinned out the radish sprouts so the remaining ones could grow bigger.

godan verb (-ku), transitive verb

cut down; reduce; run on a curtailed schedule

Used for reducing the frequency or number of something, especially services or schedules. Often seen with transportation or events.

• 不ふ況きょうでバスの本ほん数すうを間ま引びくことになった。

  Due to the recession, they had to reduce the number of bus services.

godan verb (-ku), transitive verb

kill a newborn child (due to financial difficulties)

Historical term for infanticide, often practiced in times of famine or extreme poverty. Not used in modern contexts.

• 江え戸ど時じ代だい、貧まずしい農のう家かでは口くち減べらしのために赤あかん坊ぼうを間ま引びくことがあった。

  In the Edo period, poor farming families sometimes killed newborn babies to reduce the number of mouths to feed.