How to say 'Decrease' in Japanese | 減る

word

Meaning

Decrease

Reading

Kanji

減Decrease

Explanation

The Japanese verb '減る (へる)' means 'to decrease' or 'to diminish'. It is used to describe a reduction in quantity, size, or intensity. This verb is often used in contexts involving numbers, resources, or physical amounts. For example: the number of students decreased「学生の数が減った」(がくせいのかずがへった). The water level is decreasing「水位が減っている」(すいいがへっている). It can also be used metaphorically, such as when describing a decrease in energy or motivation: my energy has decreased「私の元気が減った」(わたしのげんきがへった). Note that '減る' is an intransitive verb, meaning it does not take a direct object.

Part Of Speech

verb

Kanji JLPT

N2

Kanji Grade

5

Frequency

1852

Composition

kanji-hiragana

Handwriting