略す|りゃくすryakusu[2]nakadaka (mid-high)

JLPT N2approx.Common
Definitions
  1. godan verb, transitive verbto abbreviate; to abridge; to shorten
    私の名前なまえはロバートなので、皆みなは略りゃくしてボブと呼よびます。↗
    My name is Robert, so they call me Bob for short.
  2. godan verb, transitive verbto omit; to leave out
  3. godan verb, transitive verbto take; to capture; to steal
Conjugation
Dictionary form略す(りゃくす)
Polite (masu)略します(りゃくします)
Negative (nai)略さない(りゃくさない)
polite (masen)略しません(りゃくしません)
classical zu / nu略さず・略さぬ(りゃくさず・りゃくさぬ)
Past (ta)略した(りゃくした)
polite (mashita)略しました(りゃくしました)
Past negative (nakatta)略さなかった(りゃくさなかった)
polite (masen deshita)略しませんでした(りゃくしませんでした)
Te form略して(りゃくして)
Potential略せる(りゃくせる)
Passive略される(りゃくされる)
Causative略させる(りゃくさせる)
Causative passive略させられる(りゃくさせられる)
Conditional (ba)略せば(りゃくせば)
tara略したら(りゃくしたら)
Volitional略そう(りゃくそう)
polite (mashou)略しましょう(りゃくしましょう)
Imperative略せ(りゃくせ)

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

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym省略しょうりゃくWrittenA written/formal noun for omission, as in 「以下省略」; 「略す」 is the verb and is common in everyday speech.
  • Synonym省くはぶくNeutralLeaving out unnecessary parts or saving effort, as in 「手間を省く」; 「略す」 centers on dropping part of a complete form.
  • Synonym略するりゃくするWrittenThe suru-verb form of 「略す」 with the same meaning, but leaning written/formal; in speech people usually say 「略す」.
  • Synonym端折るはしょるCasualColloquial: skipping over part of a story or explanation, as in 「話をはしょる」; 「略す」 can also mean omitting explanations.
  • SynonymつづめるWrittenWritten/formal: to shorten or streamline; in daily life people say 「縮める」 or 「略す」.
  • Related切り捨てるきりすてるNeutralDiscarding something, or dropping the digits after a decimal place in math; 「略す」 is about omitting or simplifying.
  • Related抜くぬくNeutralSkipping or leaving out a step, as in 「朝食を抜く」; 「略す」 centers on simplifying wording or procedures.
  • RelatedカットNeutralLoanword for cutting or deleting, as in 「シーンをカット」; 「略す」 focuses on simplifying.
  • RelatedオミットNeutralLoanword for excluding or eliminating, leaning technical; 「略す」 focuses on simplifying.
  • Related縮約しゅくやくWrittenWritten/formal: shortening or condensing; in linguistics also contraction. Everyday speech uses 「略す」.
  • RelatedかいつまむNeutralUsually as 「かいつまんで話す」: to sum up the gist; 「略す」 means leaving a part out.
  • Related要略ようりゃくWrittenWritten/formal noun for a summary or outline; 「略す」 is a verb.
  • Related略筆りゃくひつWrittenWritten/formal: writing a character in simplified form, or such a form itself; 「略す」 is broader.
  • Antonym詳述するWrittenAntonym on the detail–brevity axis: to describe something in full detail.

Use 「略す」 to abbreviate names or omit explanations and greetings, as in 「説明を略す」「挨拶を略す」. For leaving out unnecessary parts or saving effort, use 「省く」; for skipping over parts in speech, 「端折る」; for cutting or deleting, 「カット」; for summing up the gist, 「かいつまむ」. The antonym is 「詳述する」.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 長ながいものを短みじかくする。
  2. いくつかのものの中なかから、いらないものを取り除とりのぞく。
  3. 他人たにんのものを自分じぶんのものにする。
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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