Translation guide
The English verb 'shrink' covers several related ideas: becoming smaller in size, decreasing in amount or value, and pulling back in fear or avoidance. Japanese uses different words for each of these meanings, and the choice depends on what is shrinking and why.
セーターが縮んだ。
My sweater shrank.
経済が縮小している。
The economy is shrinking.
彼は挑戦にひるまなかった。
He didn't shrink from the challenge.
To describe something physically contracting or getting smaller, especially due to washing, heat, or natural properties.
General intransitive verb for something shrinking or contracting. Commonly used for clothes, fabrics, and other materials.
このセーターは洗濯で縮んだ。
This sweater shrank in the wash.
綿の服は縮みやすい。
Cotton clothes shrink easily.
Also means to shrink or contract, but often implies a reduction in length or distance. Slightly less common than 縮む for general shrinking.
Literally 'become small'. A very natural and simple way to say something shrank, especially in casual speech.
洗ったらTシャツが小さくなった。
My T-shirt shrank after I washed it.
To describe a reduction in quantity, size of a group, or financial figures.
Formal term for reduction or downsizing. Used for budgets, scale, scope, etc.
会社は事業を縮小した。
The company shrank its operations.
経済が縮小している。
The economy is shrinking.
Means 'to decrease' or 'to decline'. Used for numbers, amounts, population, etc.
人口が減少している。
The population is shrinking.
利益が減少した。
Profits shrank.
Casual and common verb for 'decrease' or 'become less'. Suitable for everyday conversation.
貯金がどんどん減っている。
My savings are shrinking fast.
To describe a physical or emotional reaction of drawing back from something frightening, disgusting, or unpleasant.
To flinch, recoil, or shrink back from fear or intimidation. Often used in the negative to mean 'undaunted'.
彼は脅しにひるまなかった。
He didn't shrink from the threat.
犬が吠えて、子供はひるんだ。
The dog barked and the child shrank back.
To recoil or stagger back, often from surprise or shock. Slightly more physical than ひるむ.
To hesitate or shrink from doing something due to fear or reluctance. Literally 'pull one's hips back'.
彼は責任を取ることに尻込みした。
He shrank from taking responsibility.
To cower or shrink up in fear. Vivid and somewhat literary.
To express that someone avoids doing something difficult or unpleasant.
Literally 'run away from'. A straightforward way to say someone shirks or avoids something.
彼は困難から逃げない。
He doesn't shrink from difficulties.
To avoid something. Less vivid than 逃げる but very common.
彼女は面倒な仕事を避ける。
She shrinks from troublesome tasks.
縮む is for physical contraction. For economic shrinkage or population decline, use 縮小する or 減少する.
経済が縮んでいる。
The economy is shrinking. (unnatural)
経済が縮小している。
The economy is shrinking. (correct)
Both mean 'shrink', but 縮む is more general for volume/area reduction, while 縮まる often implies length or tension reduction. 縮む is more common for clothes.
ゴムが伸びて縮まらなくなった。
The elastic stretched out and won't shrink back.
彼はその光景にたじろいだ。
He shrank back at the sight.
怒鳴られて縮み上がった。
I shrank back when he yelled at me.