Japanese word

減らす

Pronunciation

Romajiherasu

Meaning

  • verbcut

Example

食費を減らします。shoku hi o he ra shi ma su

I cut my food expenses.

Illustration for 減らす (cut)

More examples

節電して、電気代を減らします。setsu den shi te den ki dai o he ra shi ma su

I cut my power bill by saving electricity.

Core concept

Makes an amount, degree, or burden smaller than it was before.

Common phrases

  • 仕事量を減らすshi goto ryō o he ra su

    reduce the workload

  • 体重を減らすtai jū o he ra su

    lose weight

  • 電気代を減らすden ki dai o he ra su

    cut the power bill

Similar words

削るkezuru: To make an amount smaller by cutting part of it away.
下げるsageru: To make an amount or level lower.
抑えるosaeru: To keep an amount or level from becoming too high.

Definition in Japanese

数量や程度を少なくする。sū ryō ya tei do o suku na ku su ru

Word origin

減らす (herasu, "to reduce") is a native Japanese verb connected with 減る (heru, "to decrease") and formed with the old transitive suffix す (su).

Usage tips

  • In everyday Japanese, 減らす (herasu) takes を (o) for what becomes smaller, whereas 減る (heru) takes が (ga) because it describes something becoming smaller.

Other meanings

  • lowerverb
  • shortenverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 減らし方herashikataway of reducingnoun

Word lists with this word