削る

What it means

削る means to remove material from a surface by shaving or planing; it also describes trimming down or reducing quantities, or cutting away parts, in both physical and figurative contexts.

Main meanings

• to shave off material from a surface, such as wood or ice
• to pare or trim down to a desired shape or size
• to reduce quantities, costs, or figures by cutting away parts
• to smooth rough edges or imperfections on a surface

How to use it

Used for both physical actions and abstract reductions. In physical contexts, it covers activities like shaping materials (木を削る, 氷を削る). In abstract contexts, it describes cutting down budgets or numbers (予算を削る, 人件費を削る). It appears in formal prose and everyday conversation; common conjugations include 削る, 削ります, 削った, 削ろう, reflecting aspect and politeness levels.