Translation guide
The English word 'diminishing' describes something becoming smaller, less, or weaker. This guide covers how to express this idea naturally in Japanese, from simple adjectives to nuanced verbs and patterns.
人口が減っている。
The population is diminishing.
コストを減らす必要がある。
We need to diminish costs.
To say that something is getting smaller, fewer, or less intense over time.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to decrease' or 'to diminish' in number or amount. Commonly used for countable things, resources, or abstract quantities.
人口が減っている。
The population is diminishing.
貯金がどんどん減っていく。
My savings are steadily diminishing.
Formal suru-verb meaning 'to decrease' or 'to decline'. Often used in news, reports, or formal contexts.
売上高が減少している。
Sales are diminishing.
Literally 'to become small'. Natural for physical size or scale diminishing.
氷がだんだん小さくなっている。
The ice is gradually diminishing in size.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to weaken' or 'to abate'. Used for intensity, force, or power diminishing.
風が弱まってきた。
The wind is diminishing.
To express that someone or something is causing a decrease.
Transitive verb meaning 'to reduce' or 'to diminish' something. Used for cutting down numbers, amounts, or resources.
経費を減らす必要がある。
We need to diminish our expenses.
ゴミを減らしましょう。
Let's diminish waste.
To make something smaller in size. Casual and straightforward.
写真を小さくしてください。
Please diminish the photo size.
Transitive verb meaning 'to weaken' or 'to dampen'. Used for reducing intensity, force, or effect.
The specific phrase 'diminishing returns' in economics or general use.
The economic term 'diminishing returns'. Formal and technical.
収穫逓減の法則
the law of diminishing returns
Specifically 'diminishing marginal utility' in economics.
限界効用逓減の法則
the law of diminishing marginal utility
A natural way to express the concept of diminishing returns in everyday language: 'results stop coming in proportion to effort'.
これ以上やっても、努力の割に成果が出なくなるだけだ。
If we do any more, we'll just get diminishing returns.
To describe something slowly vanishing or becoming less noticeable.
減る (heru) is the everyday verb for decreasing. 減少する (genshō suru) is more formal and often used in written reports or news. In casual speech, stick with 減る.
While 減少する is correct, using it in casual chat can sound stiff. Use 減る or other simpler verbs unless the situation calls for formality.
音量を弱めてください。
Please diminish the volume.