略す

りゃくす

to abbreviate

JLPT N2

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

The verb "略す" (りゃくす) means "to abbreviate," "to omit," or "to leave out." It is commonly used when shortening texts, names, explanations, or other information to make communication more concise.

Common Contexts

You will often see "略す" used in formal or semi-formal contexts such as meetings, written documents, or conversations where brevity is necessary. For example, abbreviating a long name or skipping over less important details in a report.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 名前を略す: to abbreviate a name, often used when people shorten long names or titles.
  • 説明を略す: to omit an explanation, common in meetings or presentations when time is limited.
  • 文章を略す: to shorten a text by omitting parts.

Nuances and Tips

Using "略す" implies intentional omission or abbreviation for convenience or brevity. It is different from accidentally skipping something. When you use "略す," the omitted parts are usually understood to be less important or can be inferred from context.

Be careful not to confuse "略す" with "省く" (はぶく), which also means "to omit" but often implies cutting out something to save effort or cost rather than just shortening.

Register

"略す" is neutral and can be used in both spoken and written Japanese, but it tends to appear more in formal or business contexts.

Example Sentences

ぶんしょうをみじかくするために、いくつかのぶぶんをりゃくすことにした。

I decided to omit some parts to shorten the text.

なまえをりゃくしてよぶことがおおいです。

It is common to call by an abbreviated name.

かいぎのじかんがみじかかったので、しょうさいなせつめいはりゃくしました。

Because the meeting time was short, I omitted the detailed explanation.