1.
to reduce, to decrease, to diminish
To make something smaller in amount, degree, or intensity. A formal or written-style verb used in official, academic, and journalistic contexts. Can be used both transitively (to reduce something) and intransitively (for something to decrease).
経費を減じる。
To reduce expenses.
刑を減じる措置がとられた。
Measures were taken to reduce the sentence.
税金を一割減じることが決定された。
It was decided to reduce taxes by ten percent.
USAGE:
A formal, written-style verb. In everyday conversation, 減らす (transitive) or 減る (intransitive) are far more common. 減じる appears in legal, administrative, and academic writing.
The variant 減ずる (classical conjugation) is also used and carries an even more formal tone.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 刑を減じる: to reduce a sentence
- 税を減じる: to reduce taxes
- 経費を減じる: to reduce expenses
- 負担を減じる: to reduce a burden
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 減らす: to reduce (everyday transitive)
- 減る: to decrease (everyday intransitive)
- 減少する: to decrease (formal, noun + suru)