1.
to suppress, to restrain, to hold back
To keep feelings, impulses, or reactions from being expressed or from getting out of control.
怒りを抑える。
To suppress one's anger.
涙を抑えられなかった。
I couldn't hold back my tears.
興奮を抑えて冷静に話した。
I controlled my excitement and spoke calmly.
2.
to curb, to keep down, to limit
To prevent something from increasing or spreading, such as costs, inflation, or symptoms.
経費を抑える。
To keep expenses down.
薬で症状を抑える。
To control the symptoms with medicine.
インフレを抑えるために金利を引き上げた。
Interest rates were raised to curb inflation.
CONJUGATION:
Ichidan verb (一段動詞).
- Negative: 抑えない
- Polite: 抑えます
- Te-form: 抑えて
- Past: 抑えた
- Potential: 抑えられる
COMPARISON WITH 押さえる:
抑える and 押さえる share the reading おさえる but use different kanji and have different core meanings:
- 抑える: to suppress, restrain, or limit (emotions, costs, spread)
- 押さえる: to press down, hold in place, or secure physically
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 感情を抑える: to restrain one's emotions
- 怒りを抑える: to suppress anger
- 涙を抑える: to hold back tears
- 費用を抑える: to keep costs down
- 症状を抑える: to control symptoms