倹約|けんやくken'yaku[0]heiban (flat)
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Definitions
- noun, suru verb, transitive verb, na-adjectivethrift; economy; frugality
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 倹約する（けんやくする） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 倹約します（けんやくします） |
| Negative (nai) | 倹約しない（けんやくしない） |
| polite (masen) | 倹約しません（けんやくしません） |
| classical zu / nu | 倹約せず・倹約せぬ（けんやくせず・けんやくせぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 倹約した（けんやくした） |
| polite (mashita) | 倹約しました（けんやくしました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 倹約しなかった（けんやくしなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 倹約しませんでした（けんやくしませんでした） |
| Te form | 倹約して（けんやくして） |
| Potential | 倹約できる（けんやくできる） |
| Passive | 倹約される（けんやくされる） |
| Causative | 倹約させる（けんやくさせる） |
| Causative passive | 倹約させられる（けんやくさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 倹約すれば（けんやくすれば） |
| tara | 倹約したら（けんやくしたら） |
| Volitional | 倹約しよう（けんやくしよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 倹約しましょう（けんやくしましょう） |
| Imperative | 倹約しろ（けんやくしろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym節減せつげんWrittenWritten/formal word for cutting expenses or reducing usage, as in 「経費節減」「電力の節減」; 倹約 is about everyday non-wastefulness.
- Synonym節約せつやくNeutralThe general word for saving resources, time or money; 倹約 centres on saving money and living frugally day to day.
- Synonym緊縮きんしゅくWrittenWritten/formal word for tightening or curtailing spending, as in 「緊縮財政」; 倹約 refers to everyday thrift.
- Synonym節倹せっけんWrittenWritten/formal term for diligent frugality with a moral, virtuous flavour; 倹約 is the more everyday word.
- Synonym節用せつようWrittenWritten/formal and rarely used; means economizing on what you use. 倹約 is far more common in modern Japanese.
- Related安上がりやすあがりCasualColloquial: something costs little and works out cheap or good value; 倹約 is about thrifty habits, not price.
- Related経済けいざいNeutralMostly means the economy or economics, but can also mean saving or good value; 倹約 is specifically frugality.
- Related経済的けいざいてきNeutralAdjective meaning economical or cost-effective, as in 「経済的な車」; 倹約 is about living frugally.
- Related質素しっそNeutralDescribes a plain, simple, unluxurious lifestyle; 倹約 is about saving money rather than plainness.
- RelatedエコノミーNeutralLoanword meaning economy class, or saving more generally; 倹約 is personal frugality.
- Antonym浪費ろうひNeutralAntonym: wasting or squandering money and things, the opposite of thrifty 倹約.
- Antonym贅沢ぜいたくNeutralAntonym: luxury and extravagance, the opposite of frugal 倹約.
Use 「倹約」 for being thrifty and not wasting money, as in 「倹約家」. For saving resources or time say 「節約」; for plain, unluxurious living 「質素」; for good value 「安上がり」 or 「経済的」; for cutting spending 「緊縮」 or 「節減」. 「浪費」 and 「贅沢」 are the opposites.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
- 無駄遣いをしないこと。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
