How to say "refrain" in Japanese

• 控えるひかえるJLPT N1approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbCovers refraining or abstaining from something, holding back from action or intake. Suitable for general self-restraint, such as being temperate with food, drink, or activity.
  あなたは喫煙きつえんをひかえるべきです。↗

  You should refrain from smoking.
• 手控えるてびかえるCommon
  ichidan verb, transitive verbMeans to hang back, hold off, or refrain, often with a nuance of reducing or cutting back on something rather than stopping altogether. Use when someone deliberately eases off an activity.
• 繰り返しくりかえしCommon
  nounThis is the noun 'repetition, reiteration, iteration', matching only the musical or poetic sense of 'refrain' (a repeated line or passage). It is not a verb for refraining from doing something, so it seldom works for that sense.
  言葉ことばの学習がくしゅうには繰り返くりかえしが必要ひつようです。↗

  Repetition plays an important role in language study.
• 差し控えるさしひかえるCommon
  ichidan verb, transitive verbUsed for refraining from a specific action, especially withholding something like an announcement, comment, or statement. It carries an official or deliberate tone, as in media or business contexts.
• 慎むつつしむJLPT N1approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbMeans to do something in moderation or to refrain from overdoing it, with a self-disciplined, careful nuance. Fits contexts of abstaining from excess rather than avoiding an action entirely.
  でしゃばるのは慎つつしんでください。↗

  Please refrain from pushing forward.

For 'refrain from doing' use 「控える」 or 「差し控える」; 「手控える」 for holding off or cutting back; 「慎む」 for moderation and avoiding excess; 「繰り返し」 is really 'repetition', a different sense entirely.

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

• 控えるひかえるto be temperate in
• 手控えるてびかえるto hang (hold) back
• 繰り返しくりかえしrepetition
• リフレーンrefrain
• ルフランrefrain
• 折れ返るおれかえるto tell again and again
• 畳句じょうくrepetition
• 差し控えるさしひかえるto refrain (from doing)
• 慎むつつしむto do in moderation
• やめるto cancel
• 折り返しおりかえしchorus