削減
解説 Definition
reductions は reduction「削減・減少」の複数形です。費用・量・人数・価格などを減らすことや、それらが減ることを、複数の項目や回数について表します。
Reductions are multiple decreases in amount, size, cost, number, or use, or several actions taken to make something smaller or lower. The plural is common when different categories are cut, as in reductions in travel costs, energy use, and waste.
使い方 Usage
- reductions in ～ で削減の対象を示します。reductions in travel costs は「出張費の削減」です。 Use reductions in something to name what is being reduced, as in reductions in travel costs.
- cost reductions、price reductions、staff reductions のように、削減対象の名詞を前に置く形も使います。 A noun can also come before reductions to name the target, as in cost reductions, price reductions, or staff reductions.
使い分け Common distinctions
- reduce は動詞、reduction は名詞です。reductions は複数形で、複数の削減や減少を表します。 Reduce is a verb, and reduction is a noun. Reductions is the plural noun and describes multiple cuts or decreases.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
reduce「減らす」と結び付け、費用・ごみ・使用量にそれぞれ下向きの矢印が付いた図を思い浮かべましょう。reduction に -s を付けた複数形で、最後の音は /z/ です。
Connect reductions with reduce, “make less.” Picture several downward arrows for costs, waste, and energy use. Add -s to reduction to form the plural; the final sound is /z/.
例文
The company announced reductions in travel costs.
その会社は出張費の削減を発表しました。
Small reductions in waste can help the environment.
廃棄物の小さな削減でも環境保護に役立ちます。
The plan includes reductions in energy use and water use.
その計画には、エネルギー使用量と水使用量の削減が含まれています。
reductions の類義語・関連語
reductions の語源・成り立ち Etymology
reductions は reduction の複数形で、古フランス語を経てラテン語 reductio「元へ連れ戻すこと」に由来する。re-「後ろへ」+ ducere「導く」+ -tion の形で、もとの『元へ戻す』感覚から『量を減らす』へ進み、関連語に reduce, conductor がある。
Reductions is the plural of reduction, formed by adding the regular plural ending -s. Reduction entered English through French from Latin reductio, “a bringing back,” built from reducere, “to lead back.” Reducere combines re-, “back,” with ducere, “to lead.” From the idea of bringing something back to a smaller state, reduction developed its modern senses of decreasing an amount, size, price, number, or level.
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