Japanese Conversation · Level 48
90 words
Japanese word
減る
Pronunciation
Romajiheru
Meaning
- verbgo down
Example
お金を使うと、貯金が減ります。o kane o tsuka u to cho kin ga he ri ma su
My savings go down when I spend money.
More examples
冬になると、外で遊ぶ子どもの数が減ります。fuyu ni na ru to soto de aso bu ko do mo no kazu ga he ri ma su
When winter comes, the number of children playing outside decreases.
Core concept
Describes an amount becoming smaller, often as something is used or lost.
Common phrases
売り上げが減るu ri a ge ga he ru
sales decrease
量が減るryō ga he ru
the amount decreases
少しずつ減るsuko shi zu tsu he ru
decrease little by little
Similar words
少なくなるsukunakunaru: To become smaller in amount or number.
下がるsagaru: To reach a lower level, price, or amount.
減少するgenshōsuru: To become smaller in amount, often in formal or written language.
Definition in Japanese
使うことなどによって、数量や程度が少なくなる。tsuka u ko to na do ni yo tte sū ryō ya tei do ga suku na ku na ru
Word origin
減る (heru) is a native Japanese verb, not a loanword, and its deeper origin is uncertain.
Usage tips
- In conversational Japanese, お金が減る (okane ga heru) means that one's money decreases as it is spent, not that it physically moves downward.