略(りゃく)

りゃく

noun

abbreviation; omission

language

1. abbreviation, shortened form

A shortened version of a word, phrase, or name.

「スマホ」は「スマートフォン」の略(りゃく)だ。

"Sumaho" is the abbreviation of "smartphone."

「国連(こくれん)」は「国際連合(こくさいれんごう)」の略(りゃく)で、世界(せかい)の平和(へいわ)と安全(あんぜん)を守(まも)る組織(そしき)だ。

"Kokuren" is the abbreviation for "United Nations" and is an organization that maintains world peace and security.

2. omission, leaving out

The act of leaving out or cutting part of something, such as a portion of text, a step in a process, or a formality.

ここは略(りゃく)で構(かま)いません。

You may omit this part.

以下(いか)略(りゃく)。

The rest is omitted.

前略(ぜんりゃく)

Dear Sir/Madam (letter opening that omits the usual seasonal greeting).

時間(じかん)の都合(つごう)で細(こま)かい説明(せつめい)は略(りゃく)させていただきます。

Due to time constraints, I will omit the detailed explanation.

An extremely productive word in Japanese. As a standalone noun, it indicates abbreviation or omission. It also appears as a prefix, suffix, and in many compounds.

Common collocations

～の略(りゃく): abbreviation of ~
略(りゃく)して: abbreviated as, shortened to
以下(いか)略(りゃく): the rest is omitted
中略(ちゅうりゃく): middle portion omitted
前略(ぜんりゃく): opening greeting omitted (letter writing)

Compounds

略語(りゃくご): abbreviation, acronym
略称(りゃくしょう): abbreviated name
省略(しょうりゃく): omission, abbreviation (the more formal compound)
略図(りゃくず): rough sketch, simplified map

Similar words

省略(しょうりゃく): omission — the full compound form, more formal
短縮(たんしゅく): shortening, abbreviation — emphasizes making something shorter in length or time

Related Words

Compare: 短縮(たんしゅく) (shortening, abbreviation)

general

Added 2026.4.2 12:25 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

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