How to say "reduce" in Japanese

• 縮めるちぢめるJLPT N2approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbUse this when 'reduce' means making something smaller in size, length, or extent — shrinking, shortening, or condensing it. It fits physical dimensions and anything you make smaller overall.
• 引き下げるひきさげるJLPT N1approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbUse this when 'reduce' means bringing a price, tax, or standard down to a lower level. The image is lowering a figure or bar, not shrinking an object.
  米国べいこく連邦れんぽう準備じゅんび銀行ぎんこうは金利きんりを引き下ひきさげました。↗

  The Federal Reserve slashed interest rates.
• 切り下げるきりさげるCommon
  ichidan verb, transitive verbLiterally to cut something so it hangs down; it also means to cut down or prune. As 'reduce' it implies reduction by cutting, and for everyday 'reduce' it is seldom the word you want.
  我々われわれは費用ひようを切り下きりさげなければならない。↗

  We must keep down expenses.
• 狭めるせばめるCommon
  ichidan verb, transitive verbUse when 'reduce' means narrowing — making a gap, range, or space smaller in width or scope. It is about contraction, not shrinking overall size.
• 割り引くわりびくCommon
  godan verb, transitive verbCovers 'reduce' only for prices: to discount, taking a percentage off. If you mean reducing something other than a price, this is not the word.

Choose by what is being reduced: 「縮める」 shrinks or shortens, 「引き下げる」 lowers prices, taxes or standards, 「狭める」 narrows gaps or ranges, 「割り引く」 discounts a price, and 「切り下げる」 cuts down or prunes.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 縮めるちぢめるto shorten
• 引き下げるひきさげるto lower (a price, tax, standard, etc.)
• 切り下げるきりさげるto cut down
• 狭めるせばめるto narrow
• 割り引くわりびくto discount
• 攻め落とすせめおとすto take by storm (e.g. a castle)
• 詰めるつめるto reduce (spending)
• 下げるさげるto lower
• 削るけずるto cut down (budget, expenses, staff, time, etc.)
• 切り詰めるきりつめるto cut down on
• 間引くまびくto run on a curtailed schedule
• そぐto dampen (one's enthusiasm, interest, etc.)
• 陥れるおとしいれるto capture (a castle, fortress, etc.)
• 約するやくするto reduce
• 減ずるげんずるto reduce
• 減じるげんじるto reduce
• 切るきるto reduce
• ひらくto extract (root)
• 抜くぬくto seize
• 緩めるゆるめるto reduce (speed)
• 落とすおとすto lower (e.g. shoulders or voice)