How do you say "to refrain" in Japanese?

“To refrain” in Japanese

Short answer

控える hikaeru ひかえる

To refrain in Japanese is “控える” (hikaeru). Full meaning: to be temperate in, to refrain, to abstain, to hold back, to restrain oneself from excessive ...; to make notes, to jot down (e.g. phone number); to be in preparation for, to be in waiting for.

Other ways to say “To refrain” in Japanese

折れ返る orekaeru to tell again and again, to repeat, to refrain, to turn up, to turn down 手控える tebikaeru to hang (hold) back, to hold off, to refrain, to reduce or cut back on; to jot down a note 差し控える sashihikaeru to be moderate in, to be temperate in, to not do too much of; to refrain (from doing), to withhold (an announcement, comment, etc.); to be beside, to be close by 慎む tsutsushimu to be careful, to be discreet; to do in moderation, to refrain (from overdoing), to abstain; to be reverent 扣える hikaeru to be temperate in, to refrain, to abstain, to hold back, to restrain oneself from excessive ...; to make notes, to jot down (e.g. phone number); to be in preparation for, to be in waiting for ひかえる hikaeru to be temperate in, to refrain, to abstain, to hold back, to restrain oneself from excessive ...; to make notes, to jot down (e.g. phone number); to be in preparation for, to be in waiting for 差控える sashihikaeru to be moderate in, to be temperate in, to not do too much of; to refrain (from doing), to withhold (an announcement, comment, etc.); to be beside, to be close by てびかえる tebikaeru to hang (hold) back, to hold off, to refrain, to reduce or cut back on; to jot down a note 手びかえる tebikaeru to hang (hold) back, to hold off, to refrain, to reduce or cut back on; to jot down a note さし控える sashihikaeru to be moderate in, to be temperate in, to not do too much of; to refrain (from doing), to withhold (an announcement, comment, etc.); to be beside, to be close by さしひかえる sashihikaeru to be moderate in, to be temperate in, to not do too much of; to refrain (from doing), to withhold (an announcement, comment, etc.); to be beside, to be close by

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