Japanese word

セーブ

Pronunciation

Romajisēbu

Meaning

  • noungo easy on

Example

今日は甘い物をセーブします。kyō wa ama i mono o sē bu shi ma su

I will go easy on sweets today.

Illustration for セーブ (go easy on)

More examples

旅行中は水をセーブするようにしています。ryo kō chū wa mizu o sē bu su ru yō ni shi te i ma su

While traveling, I try to conserve water.

Core concept

It marks a deliberate limit on how much of something is used or consumed.

Common phrases

  • カロリーをセーブka ro rī o sē bu

    cut back on calories

  • 塩分をセーブen bun o sē bu

    cut back on salt

  • 出費をセーブshup pi o sē bu

    cut back on spending

Similar words

節制sessei: Intentional control over the amount of food, drink, or other things consumed.
自制jisei: A person restrains an impulse or desire through conscious self-control.
節約setsuyaku: Money or resources are used carefully to avoid unnecessary waste.

Definition in Japanese

使う量や程度を控えること。tsuka u ryō ya tei do o hika e ru ko to

Word origin

The noun セーブ (sēbu) is borrowed from English save, whose sense of keeping something in reserve supports the Japanese use for holding back consumption.

Usage tips

  • When セーブ (sēbu) concerns eating or spending, it often signals self-control chosen by the person rather than a shortage or an outside restriction.

Other meanings

  • cut backnoun
  • conservenoun

Opposites

Word lists with this word