削減|さくげんsakugen[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N1approx.Common
Definitions
  1. noun, suru verb, transitive verbcut; reduction; curtailment
    彼女かのじょは支出ししゅつを徐々じょじょに削減さくげんした。↗
    She pared down her expenditures.
Conjugation
Dictionary form削減する(さくげんする)
Polite (masu)削減します(さくげんします)
Negative (nai)削減しない(さくげんしない)
polite (masen)削減しません(さくげんしません)
classical zu / nu削減せず・削減せぬ(さくげんせず・さくげんせぬ)
Past (ta)削減した(さくげんした)
polite (mashita)削減しました(さくげんしました)
Past negative (nakatta)削減しなかった(さくげんしなかった)
polite (masen deshita)削減しませんでした(さくげんしませんでした)
Te form削減して(さくげんして)
Potential削減できる(さくげんできる)
Passive削減される(さくげんされる)
Causative削減させる(さくげんさせる)
Causative passive削減させられる(さくげんさせられる)
Conditional (ba)削減すれば(さくげんすれば)
tara削減したら(さくげんしたら)
Volitional削減しよう(さくげんしよう)
polite (mashou)削減しましょう(さくげんしましょう)
Imperative削減しろ(さくげんしろ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • SynonymカットNeutralLoanword for cutting back or cutting something away; common in everyday speech, as in 「コストカット」. 「削減」 sounds more formal.
  • Synonym引き下げひきさげNeutralLowering prices, tax rates and the like. 「削減」 is about cutting a total amount.
  • Synonym軽減けいげんNeutralLightening burdens, pain and similar loads. 「削減」 deals with quantities.
  • Synonym減らすへらすNeutralThe everyday, all-purpose verb for reducing any amount. 「削減」 is the more formal choice.
  • Synonym減額げんがくWrittenCutting a sum of money, as in 「減額措置」. 「削減」 is not limited to money and covers staff too.
  • Synonym減少げんしょうNeutralA decrease in quantity, natural or deliberate; focuses on the result. 「削減」 stresses the act of cutting.
  • Synonym減殺げんさいWrittenWritten word for weakening or diminishing an effect. 「削減」 is about quantities.
  • Related縮小しゅくしょうNeutralShrinking something in size or scale. 「削減」 is about deliberate cuts to budgets, staff and the like.
  • Related削るけずるNeutralEveryday verb with a wider range: literally to shave or whittle away, and also to cut expenses or text. 「削減」 is a noun and more formal.
  • Related低減ていげんWrittenWritten word for lowering costs, risks and the like; leans technical. 「削減」 centres on budgets and staffing.
  • Related縮減しゅくげんWrittenWritten-style word for scaling back, rarely used; 「削減」 is the normal choice.
  • Related節約せつやくNeutralEconomising, using less — by individuals or companies, as in 「経費を節約する」. 「削減」 means cutting away part of the amount outright.
  • Related節減せつげんWrittenWritten word for trimming expenses or energy use. 「削減」 is the more direct term.
  • RelatedそぐNeutralTo chip away at or dampen things like drive and enthusiasm. 「削減」 is about cutting quantities.
  • Related節するせっするWrittenWritten word for being moderate and cutting back, rare; say 「節約」 instead.
  • Related節倹せっけんWrittenThrift and frugality, framed as a personal virtue. 「削減」 is about reducing quantities.
  • Related減ずるげんずるWrittenWritten verb for decreasing or deducting. 「削減」 stresses deliberate cuts.
  • Related減損げんそんWrittenLoss or impairment of value, an accounting term. 「削減」 is about actively cutting.
  • Related減じるげんじるWrittenThe more conversational form of 「減ずる」, meaning to decrease. 「削減」 leans toward budgets and staffing.
  • Antonym増加ぞうかNeutralAntonym: an increase, the counterpart of deliberate cuts, as in 「人員増加」.
  • Antonym拡大かくだいNeutralAntonym: expanding in scale, the opposite of scaling down.
  • Antonym増強ぞうきょうWrittenAntonym: reinforcing or building up staff and facilities, the opposite of cutting.

Use 「削減」 for deliberate cuts to budgets, staff or emissions, as in 「経費削減」. In casual speech 「カット」 is common; for lowering costs or risks pick 「低減」, for economising 「節約」, and for a drop in quantity 「減少」. 「増加」 is its opposite. The everyday verbs are wider in scope: 「減らす」 is the general verb for reducing anything, and 「削る」 also covers literally shaving material away. 「縮減」「節減」「減額」 are written terms, and 「拡大」「増強」 further antonyms.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 減へらすこと。少すくなくすること。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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