省く

• Reading: はぶく
• Romaji: habuku
• Kanji breakdown: 省 (shō/habu) — to omit, to reflect, ministry
• Pronunciation: /ha.bɯ.kɯ/

Meaning

To omit; to leave out; to cut down on. Used when skipping unnecessary parts or reducing effort.

A Group 1 (godan) verb conjugated with the く row. Often used to describe cutting unnecessary steps, words, or expenses. Related to the noun 省略 (abbreviation/omission). Common in efficiency-focused contexts like work instructions or writing guidelines.

Examples

1. 時間がないので説明は省きます。 Since we're short on time, I'll skip the explanation.
2. 無駄な手順を省くと仕事が早くなる。 Cutting out unnecessary steps makes the work go faster.
3. 細かい部分は省いて要点だけ話した。 I left out the minor details and just covered the key points.

Usage Guide

Context: business, writing, daily life

Tone: practical

Origin & History

The kanji 省 has dual readings: しょう (ministry, reflection) and はぶ (to omit). The omission sense relates to cutting away the unnecessary.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal