Japanese word

縮める

Pronunciation

Romajichijimeru

Meaning

  • verbshorten

Example

長い文章を縮めます。naga i bun shō o chiji me ma su

I shorten a long text.

Illustration for 縮める (shorten)

More examples

過度な負担は機械の寿命を縮めます。ka do na fu tan wa ki kai no ju myō o chiji me ma su

Excessive strain shortens a machine's lifespan.

Core concept

It describes making an existing span, duration, or form smaller by bringing its endpoints closer together.

Common phrases

  • 距離を縮めるkyo ri o chiji me ru

    bring people closer

  • 差を縮めるsa o chiji me ru

    narrow the gap

  • 寿命を縮めるju myō o chiji me ru

    shorten the lifespan

  • 文章を縮めるbun shō o chiji me ru

    shorten a text

Similar words

短縮するtanshukusuru: To make a length, period, or piece of writing shorter.
詰めるtsumeru: To bring two ends, points, or events closer together in space or time.
縮小するshukushōsuru: To make the size, scale, or scope of something smaller.
狭めるsebameru: To make a width, range, or gap smaller.

Definition in Japanese

物の長さや時間、文章などを、もとの状態より短くする。mono no naga sa ya ji kan bun shō na do o mo to no jō tai yo ri mijika ku su ru

Word origin

The pair 縮む (chijimu, "to become shorter or smaller") and 縮める (chijimeru) contrasts becoming shorter with making something shorter, with める (meru) marking the caused action.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Japanese, 縮める (chijimeru) is also used when a familiar name is made shorter in speech, giving the verb a common conversational use.

Other meanings

  • reduceverb
  • condenseverb
  • shrinkverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 縮め方chijimekataway to shortennoun

Word lists with this word