Translation guide
The English verb 'suppress' covers a range of meanings from holding back emotions to actively preventing something from happening or being expressed. Japanese uses different words depending on what is being suppressed and the context.
To hold back or control a feeling, desire, laugh, yawn, etc.
The most common and versatile verb for suppressing emotions, urges, or physical reactions. Can be used for anger, laughter, tears, pain, etc.
怒りを抑える。
Suppress one's anger.
笑いを抑えられなかった。
I couldn't suppress my laughter.
Often used for enduring or holding back tears, laughter, or physical needs. Implies a conscious effort to keep something inside.
To endure or put up with something unpleasant, including suppressing one's own desires or reactions. More about patience and tolerance.
痛みを我慢する。
Suppress the pain. (Endure the pain.)
To prevent something from becoming known or public; to cover up.
To hide or conceal information, facts, or evidence. The most direct equivalent for suppressing the truth.
会社は不祥事を隠そうとした。
The company tried to suppress the scandal.
To hush up or cover up a scandal or incident, often implying active efforts to prevent it from becoming public. Common in news contexts.
To suppress or oppress, often used for suppressing freedom of speech or information by authority. More formal and forceful.
政府は報道を抑圧した。
The government suppressed the media reports.
To put down or quell an uprising, dissent, or resistance by force or authority.
To suppress or quell a riot, rebellion, or protest, typically by force. The standard term for military or police action.
軍隊が反乱を鎮圧した。
The army suppressed the rebellion.
Can also be used for suppressing opposition or dissent, but less forceful than 鎮圧する. Often implies controlling rather than crushing.
反対意見を抑える。
Suppress opposing opinions.
To reduce or eliminate unwanted sound, interference, or electronic signals.
General term for suppressing noise or sound. Can be used in everyday and technical contexts.
騒音を抑える。
Suppress noise.
To erase or turn off sound completely. Often used for muting or eliminating noise.
雑音を消す。
Suppress (eliminate) static/noise.
Technical term for suppression, often used in electronics, signal processing, or medical contexts (e.g., suppressing a signal or symptom).
ノイズを抑制する回路。
A circuit that suppresses noise.
To inhibit or reduce the effect of a medical condition or biological function.
Commonly used for suppressing symptoms or the progression of a disease. Works in everyday medical contexts.
咳を抑える薬。
Medicine to suppress a cough.
More formal/technical term for inhibiting or suppressing biological processes, often used in medical or scientific writing.
免疫反応を抑制する。
Suppress the immune response.
抑える (おさえる) is the most general and can be used for emotions, sounds, symptoms, and abstract things. 抑制する (よくせいする) is more formal and often used in technical, medical, or official contexts. 鎮圧する (ちんあつする) is specifically for suppressing riots, rebellions, or uprisings by force.
抑圧する (よくあつする) means 'oppress' or 'suppress' in a political or psychological sense (e.g., suppressing freedom or memories). It is not used for holding back a yawn or noise.
The incident was suppressed (hushed up).