Translation guide
How to express making something shorter in length, duration, or text in Japanese.
Reduce the length of a physical object, like a rope, skirt, or hair.
General phrase meaning 'to make short'. Use for physical objects.
スカートを短くした。
I shortened the skirt.
To shorten or shrink something, often implying making it more compact. Used for things like distances, strings, or hair.
髪を縮めてもらえますか？
Could you shorten my hair?
To cut down or shorten by cutting, often used for trimming plants or cutting cloth.
Reduce the time something takes, like a meeting, trip, or process.
Also used for time. Very versatile.
会議の時間を短くしましょう。
Let's shorten the meeting time.
Formal term for shortening time or duration. Common in business or official contexts.
営業時間を短縮します。
We will shorten business hours.
Can be used for time as well, though less common than 短縮する for formal situations.
Reduce the length of written or spoken content, like an article, speech, or name.
Works for text as well. Simple and direct.
この文章をもっと短くしてください。
Please shorten this text more.
To omit or abbreviate. Used when shortening by leaving parts out.
長い名前は省略されることが多い。
Long names are often shortened.
To summarize or condense. Implies shortening while keeping key points.
レポートを要約して短くした。
I summarized the report and shortened it.
Can be used for text length, but less common than 短くする or 省略する.
Create a shorter form of a word or expression, like an acronym or contraction.
To abbreviate. Common for shortening words or phrases.
「スマートフォン」を「スマホ」と略す。
We shorten 'smartphone' to 'sumaho'.
Also means to abbreviate, often interchangeable with 略す.
「アルバイト」はよく「バイト」と省略される。
'Arubaito' is often shortened to 'baito'.
Can be used for abbreviating words, but more formal and less common than 略す.
この用語は短縮して使われる。
This term is used in a shortened form.
短くする is the most general and can be used for physical length, time, or text. 短縮する is formal and mainly for time or schedules. 縮める implies making something more compact and is often used for physical objects or distances.
When you mean 'abbreviate' as in making a shorter form of a word, use 略す or 省略する. 短くする would sound like you are physically shortening the word itself, which is unnatural.
このドレスを短くしてもらえますか？
Can you shorten this dress?
会議を短縮する必要があります。
We need to shorten the meeting.
記事を500語に短くしてください。
Please shorten the article to 500 words.
枝を切り詰めた。
I shortened the branches.
待ち時間を縮める方法はありますか？
Is there a way to shorten the waiting time?
スピーチを縮めなければならない。
I have to shorten my speech.