抑制

• Reading: よくせい
• Romaji: yokusei
• Kanji breakdown: 抑 (yoku) — to suppress, press down; 制 (sei) — control, regulate
• Pronunciation: /jokɯseː/

Meaning

Restraint; suppression; control; inhibition. The act of holding something back or keeping it in check.

A noun (also used as a suru-verb: 抑制する) referring to the deliberate suppression of an impulse, emotion, reaction, or physical process. Common in medical, psychological, and political contexts. Distinct from 抑圧 (oppression), which implies forceful external pressure.

Examples

1. 感情の抑制が利かなくなり、思わず涙がこぼれた。 I lost control of my emotions, and tears spilled out involuntarily.
2. 政府は物価上昇を抑制するための政策を打ち出した。 The government introduced policies to curb rising prices.
3. 薬が免疫反応を抑制することで炎症が和らいだ。 The medication suppressed the immune response, which eased the inflammation.

Usage Guide

Context: medicine, psychology, politics, economics

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From 抑 (to press down, suppress) and 制 (to control, regulate). Both characters carry the sense of applying downward or restrictive force, making the compound highly transparent in meaning.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Educated