Meaning

Primary

To Decrease

Alternatives

To Be Decreased, To Get Decreased

Word Type

intransitive verb, godan verb

Explanation

This word consists of kanji with hiragana attached. Because the hiragana ends with an sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means decrease so the verb vocab version is to decrease or to be decreased.

Reading

へる
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun'yomi reading. You didn't learn that reading with this kanji, so here's a mnemonic to help you: Your status is to be decreased amongst the eyes of the Gods. They decide your punishment is to be decreased into hell (へる) where you will live the rest of your days.

Context

Context Sentences

十日で体重が二キロ減りました。

My weight decreased by two kilos in ten days.

今月は、ワニカニの売り上げが、五パーセントも減ってしまいました。

WaniKani sales decreased by 5% this month.

いつも右の靴の踵が左よりも速く擦り減るんだ。

My right shoe always gets worn down at the heels faster than my left one.

Kanji Composition