At the A1 level, you don't really need to use the word 'redukować' yet. It is a big, formal word. Instead, you would use simple words like 'mało' (little) or 'mniej' (less). For example, instead of saying 'I am reducing sugar,' an A1 student might say 'Jem mało cukru' (I eat little sugar) or 'Chcę mniej cukru' (I want less sugar). However, if you see this word, just remember it looks like the English word 'reduce.' It means making something smaller. You might see it on a sign in a shop or in a simple health tip. Just focus on the fact that it means 'to make less.' You don't need to worry about the grammar of it yet, just recognize that 'redukować' and 'reduce' are friends.
At the A2 level, you can start to recognize 'redukować' in specific contexts, like driving or simple health advice. You might learn the phrase 'redukować bieg' if you are learning to drive in Poland, which means to change to a lower gear. You also might see it in simple articles about the environment, like 'redukować plastik' (reduce plastic). At this level, you should know that it is a verb and it ends in '-ować,' which means it follows a regular pattern: 'ja redukuję,' 'ty redukujesz.' You can use it to sound a bit more serious than just saying 'robić mniej' (doing less). It is a good word to have in your passive vocabulary when you read simple news or labels on products.
At the B1 level, you should be able to use 'redukować' in common sentences about your life and work. You might use it to talk about your habits, like 'Redukuję stres przez jogę' (I reduce stress through yoga). You should also understand the difference between the process ('redukować') and the finished result ('zredukować'). For example, 'Będę redukować wydatki' (I will be reducing expenses) versus 'Zredukowałem wydatki' (I reduced expenses). You are starting to see this word in work meetings or in more detailed newspaper articles. You should also know that it requires the Accusative case (Biernik). It is a useful word for describing plans and improvements in a slightly more professional way than a beginner would.
At the B2 level, 'redukować' becomes a standard part of your professional and academic vocabulary. You should use it confidently when discussing topics like the economy, ecology, or technology. You understand its nuances—that it's more formal than 'zmniejszać' and more technical than 'obniżać.' You can use it in the passive voice, such as 'Emisja została zredukowana' (The emission was reduced). You also know how to use it with percentages and prepositions, like 'zredukować o połowę' (to reduce by half). At this level, you are expected to choose 'redukować' over simpler synonyms when the context is formal, such as in a written essay or a business presentation. You also understand its reflexive form 'redukować się' for spontaneous or automatic processes.
At the C1 level, you have a deep understanding of 'redukować.' You use it not just for physical quantities, but for abstract concepts and complex systems. You can discuss 'redukcjonizm' in philosophy or 'redukcję fonetyczną' in linguistics. You are aware of the stylistic weight the word carries; it signals a high level of education and precision. You can use it in complex sentence structures, such as 'Nie można redukować tak złożonego problemu społecznego do czysto ekonomicznych wskaźników' (One cannot reduce such a complex social problem to purely economic indicators). You also recognize the word in various professional jargons, from chemistry to mechanical engineering, and you use the correct aspectual forms and cases instinctively.
At the C2 level, 'redukować' is a tool you use with total precision and stylistic flair. You can distinguish between 'redukować,' 'minimalizować,' 'limitować,' and 'deprecjonować' with ease. You might use it ironically or metaphorically in sophisticated literature or high-level debate. You understand the historical development of the word and its role in the 'internationalization' of the Polish language. You can handle the most complex grammatical constructions involving the word, including its use in dense legal or scientific texts where the nuances of its perfective and imperfective forms change the entire meaning of a regulation or a discovery. You are a master of the word's register and never use it where a simpler or more specific Polish term would be more stylistically appropriate.

redukować 30秒で

  • Redukować is a formal Polish verb meaning 'to reduce' or 'to decrease' something intentionally.
  • It is commonly used for costs, stress, technical parameters, and even downshifting gears in a car.
  • Grammatically, it is imperfective and takes the Accusative case (Biernik) for the object being reduced.
  • It is a C1 level word because of its formal register and broad application in professional and scientific fields.

The Polish verb redukować is a versatile, high-register term that English speakers will recognize as a cognate of 'to reduce.' At its core, it describes the act of making something smaller, less numerous, or less intense. While it is used in everyday Polish, it carries a slightly more formal or technical weight than the simpler word zmniejszać. In the context of Polish linguistics, it belongs to the group of loanwords from Latin ('reducere'), which gives it a structural familiarity but also specific grammatical requirements in Slavic syntax.

Economic Context
In business and economics, 'redukować' is the go-to verb for cutting costs, downsizing staff, or lowering prices. When a company 'redukuje etaty' (reduces positions), it is a formal way of discussing layoffs. It implies a systematic or calculated decrease rather than an accidental one.

Firma musi natychmiast redukować koszty operacyjne, aby uniknąć bankructwa.

Translation: The company must immediately reduce operating costs to avoid bankruptcy.

Beyond the boardroom, 'redukować' finds its place in the kitchen and the laboratory. In culinary terms, 'redukować sos' means to simmer a sauce until it thickens, exactly like the English 'to reduce a sauce.' In chemistry, it refers to the process of reduction (the gain of electrons), which is the opposite of oxidation. This technical precision is why the word is classified at the C1 level; while a beginner can say 'mniej' (less), a C1 learner chooses 'redukować' to convey professional or academic intent.

Scientific Application
In mathematics and logic, 'redukować' is used when simplifying fractions or bringing a complex problem down to its fundamental components. It suggests a process of refinement.

Furthermore, the word is frequently used in discussions about lifestyle and health. People talk about 'redukowanie stresu' (reducing stress) or 'redukowanie spożycia cukru' (reducing sugar intake). Here, the word implies a conscious, often difficult effort to change a habit. It is not just about having less; it is about the active process of reduction. The imperfective aspect of 'redukować' suggests an ongoing process, whereas the perfective 'zredukować' would imply a completed act of reduction.

Lekarz zalecił mu, aby zaczął redukować liczbę wypalanych papierosów każdego dnia.

Mechanical Usage
In mechanics, specifically regarding vehicles, 'redukować bieg' means to downshift. This is a very common phrase for drivers in Poland.

In summary, 'redukować' is a high-utility verb that spans across professional, scientific, and personal domains. It requires the accusative case (Biernik) for the object being reduced. Understanding its nuances allows a speaker to transition from basic communication to sophisticated discourse, making it a hallmark of the C1 proficiency level in Polish.

Using 'redukować' correctly involves understanding its grammatical placement and its aspectual pair. As an imperfective verb, 'redukować' describes the process or the habit of reducing. If you want to say you 'have reduced' something (a finished action), you must use the perfective form: zredukować.

Grammar: Case Selection
The verb 'redukować' always takes the Accusative case (Biernik). For example: Redukuję (co?) stres (masculine), redukuję (co?) wagę (feminine).

Oni obecnie redukują zatrudnienie w dziale marketingu.

When constructing sentences, it is important to note that 'redukować' can also be used reflexively as redukować się. This is used when something reduces itself or is being reduced without an explicit agent being mentioned. For example, 'Liczba błędów redukuje się wraz z doświadczeniem' (The number of errors reduces with experience).

In formal writing, you will often see 'redukować' paired with abstract nouns. It is rarely used for physical objects like 'reducing a pile of clothes' (where 'zmniejszać' or 'sprzątać' is better) unless you are speaking in a technical or mathematical sense. It thrives in contexts of quantities, intensity, and complexity.

Nie możemy redukować całego zagadnienia do prostego schematu.

Tense Usage
Present: Redukuję. Past: Redukowałem/am. Future: Będę redukować / Będę redukował(a). The future imperfective indicates a plan to engage in the process of reduction.

Finally, consider the passive voice. In Polish, the passive participle 'redukowany' is quite common in academic texts. 'Koszty są redukowane' (Costs are being reduced). This emphasizes the object rather than the person doing the reducing, which is a key feature of formal Polish style.

W tej fabryce emisja spalin jest stale redukowana dzięki nowym filtrom.

You will encounter 'redukować' in several distinct environments in Poland. The most common is the professional workplace. If you work in a Polish corporation, you will hear it during quarterly reviews, strategy meetings, and when discussing efficiency. It is the language of management.

News and Media
News anchors frequently use 'redukować' when reporting on government budgets, inflation, or military presence. 'Rząd planuje redukować deficyt budżetowy' (The government plans to reduce the budget deficit) is a standard headline.

W wiadomościach mówili, że Unia Europejska chce redukować zużycie plastiku.

Another surprising place is behind the wheel of a car. Poland has a high percentage of manual transmission cars. When a driver needs to slow down or prepare for a turn, they 'redukują bieg' (downshift). You might hear an instructor say: 'Redukuj do dwójki!' (Downshift to second gear!). This is perhaps the most 'everyday' use of the word.

In scientific and academic lectures, 'redukować' is indispensable. Whether it's a biology lecture about 'redukowanie populacji' (reducing population) or a philosophy seminar about 'redukcjonizm' (reductionism), the verb serves as a foundational tool for analysis. It implies a logical stripping away of layers.

Podczas eksperymentu musimy redukować wpływ czynników zewnętrznych.

Health and Wellness
Fitness influencers and dietitians use it constantly. 'Jak redukować tkankę tłuszczową?' (How to reduce body fat?) is one of the most searched phrases in the Polish fitness community.

Lastly, in the culinary world, you will hear it on cooking shows like 'MasterChef Polska'. A chef might tell a contestant to 'redukować płyn' to intensify the flavor. This demonstrates the word's reach from the highly technical to the highly practical.

Even at the C1 level, learners can stumble with 'redukować' due to its specific nuances and the Polish aspect system. The most frequent error is the misuse of aspect. Using 'redukować' (imperfective) when the action is finished and specific (perfective) sounds unnatural.

Mistake: Wrong Aspect
Saying 'Wczoraj redukowałem dług' implies you were in the process of doing it but doesn't confirm it happened. If the debt was actually cut, say 'Wczoraj zredukowałem dług'.

Błąd: Muszę redukować ten błąd teraz. Poprawnie: Muszę zredukować ten błąd teraz.

Another common mistake is overuse. Because 'redukować' is a cognate, English speakers tend to use it for everything. In Polish, if you are talking about making a physical object smaller (like a piece of wood), you shouldn't use 'redukować'. You would use 'zmniejszać' or 'skracać'. Using 'redukować' for physical size of everyday objects sounds like you are talking about them in a laboratory.

A third mistake involves case errors. Some learners mistakenly use the Genitive case after 'redukować' because they associate 'less' with the Genitive. Remember: 'redukować' is a transitive verb that requires the Accusative. 'Redukuję stres' (Accusative), not 'Redukuję stresu' (unless it's negative: 'Nie redukuję stresu').

Błąd: Redukujemy wydatków. Poprawnie: Redukujemy wydatki.

False Friends in Prepositions
In English, we 'reduce by 20%'. In Polish, we say 'redukować o 20%'. Using 'przez' or 'do' incorrectly changes the meaning significantly.

Finally, be careful with the reflexive form 'się'. Using 'redukować' when you mean 'redukować się' can change the subject of the sentence. 'Dług redukuje' (The debt reduces [something else]) vs 'Dług się redukuje' (The debt is reducing [itself]).

Polish has a rich vocabulary for the concept of 'lessening'. Choosing the right one depends on the register and the specific object you are talking about. Here is how 'redukować' compares to its closest relatives.

Redukować vs Zmniejszać
'Zmniejszać' is the universal, neutral term. You can 'zmniejszać' the volume of a TV or the size of a photo. 'Redukować' is more formal and implies a more systematic or technical process.
Redukować vs Ograniczać
'Ograniczać' means 'to limit' or 'to restrict'. While reducing often involves limiting, 'ograniczać' focuses on the boundaries. You 'ograniczasz wolność' (limit freedom), but you 'redukujesz koszty' (reduce costs).

Możesz zmniejszyć jasność ekranu, ale firma musi redukować emisję CO2.

In financial contexts, you might hear ciąć (to cut). This is more colloquial and aggressive. 'Ciąć koszty' is the equivalent of 'slashing costs'. It is much more informal than 'redukować koszty'. Use 'ciąć' in a heated debate or a casual conversation about money, and 'redukować' in a formal report.

For technical or mathematical simplification, you might use upraszać (to simplify) or sprowadzać (to bring down/reduce to). For instance, 'sprowadzać ułamek do wspólnego mianownika' is 'to reduce a fraction to a common denominator'. This is a very specific type of reduction.

Summary of Alternatives
Use 'redukować' for: costs, stress, technical processes, downshifting. Use 'zmniejszać' for: general size, volume. Use 'obniżać' for: prices, levels. Use 'ograniczać' for: limits, habits.

Zamiast redukować personel, spróbujmy ograniczyć wydatki na reklamę.

How Formal Is It?

豆知識

In Polish, the word 'reduktor' is used for a part of a gas stove or a car's transmission, showing how the verb 'redukować' has physical 'children' in technology.

発音ガイド

UK /rɛduˈkɔvat͡ɕ/
US /rɛduˈkɔvat͡ɕ/
Penultimate (second to last syllable): re-du-KO-wać
韻が合う語
pracować kupować budować sterować marnować planować gotować notować
よくある間違い
  • Pronouncing 'u' like the English 'u' in 'use'. It should be 'oo'.
  • Stress on the first syllable.
  • Making the 'ć' sound too much like 'ts'.
  • Not rolling the 'r'.
  • Pronouncing 'w' as 'w' instead of 'v'.

難易度

読解 2/5

Easy to recognize because of the English cognate.

ライティング 4/5

Requires knowledge of the '-ować' conjugation and Accusative case.

スピーキング 4/5

The 'ć' ending and 'r' can be tricky for English speakers.

リスニング 3/5

Clearly pronounced but can be confused with other '-ować' verbs in fast speech.

次に学ぶべきこと

前提知識

mniej robić mały dużo zmieniać

次に学ぶ

minimalizować optymalizować ograniczać zwiększać analizować

上級

redukcjonizm nieredukowalny oksydoredukcja reduktor

レベル別の例文

1

Muszę redukować cukier.

I must reduce sugar.

Simple present tense with modal verb 'musieć'.

2

On redukuje stres.

He reduces stress.

Third person singular 'on redukuje'.

3

My redukujemy plastik.

We reduce plastic.

First person plural 'my redukujemy'.

4

Czy ty redukujesz kawę?

Do you reduce coffee?

Question form with 'czy'.

5

Oni redukują koszty.

They reduce costs.

Third person plural 'oni redukują'.

6

Nie redukuję soli.

I don't reduce salt.

Negation using 'nie'.

7

Chcę redukować wagę.

I want to reduce weight.

Infinitive form after 'chcieć'.

8

Mama redukuje kalorie.

Mom reduces calories.

Subject-verb agreement.

1

Kierowca musi redukować bieg przed zakrętem.

The driver must downshift before the turn.

Technical phrase 'redukować bieg'.

2

Zaczynam redukować czas przed telewizorem.

I am starting to reduce time in front of the TV.

Verb 'zaczynać' + infinitive.

3

Firma redukuje etaty w tym miesiącu.

The company is reducing positions this month.

Business context.

4

Musimy redukować zużycie wody.

We must reduce water consumption.

Noun 'zużycie' in Accusative.

5

Ona redukuje liczbę spotkań.

She is reducing the number of meetings.

Accusative 'liczbę'.

6

Czy redukujecie odpady w domu?

Do you (plural) reduce waste at home?

Second person plural.

7

Lekarz mówi, żeby redukować tłuszcz.

The doctor says to reduce fat.

Indirect command with 'żeby'.

8

Zawsze redukuję prędkość tutaj.

I always reduce speed here.

Adverb 'zawsze' indicating habit.

1

Będziemy redukować zanieczyszczenie powietrza.

We will be reducing air pollution.

Future imperfective tense.

2

Redukując koszty, firma przetrwała kryzys.

By reducing costs, the company survived the crisis.

Present participle 'redukując'.

3

Powinieneś redukować ilość soli w diecie.

You should reduce the amount of salt in your diet.

Conditional 'powinieneś'.

4

Staram się redukować negatywne emocje.

I am trying to reduce negative emotions.

Reflexive 'starać się'.

5

Dlaczego oni nie redukują tych cen?

Why aren't they reducing these prices?

Interrogative with 'dlaczego'.

6

Redukowanie długu zajmie nam lata.

Reducing the debt will take us years.

Gerund 'redukowanie' as subject.

7

Kucharz zaczął redukować sos na małym ogniu.

The chef started reducing the sauce on low heat.

Culinary context.

8

Musisz redukować bieg, kiedy wjeżdżasz pod górę.

You must downshift when driving uphill.

Temporal clause with 'kiedy'.

1

Unia Europejska nakazuje redukować emisję dwutlenku węgla.

The EU mandates reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

Formal verb 'nakazuje'.

2

Nowa technologia pozwala redukować hałas silnika.

New technology allows for the reduction of engine noise.

Verb 'pozwalać' + infinitive.

3

Zamiast redukować wydatki, oni je zwiększają.

Instead of reducing expenses, they are increasing them.

Contrast using 'zamiast'.

4

Redukujemy ryzyko poprzez dywersyfikację portfela.

We reduce risk by diversifying the portfolio.

Preposition 'poprzez' + Accusative.

5

System automatycznie redukuje napięcie w sieci.

The system automatically reduces the voltage in the grid.

Technical context, adverb 'automatycznie'.

6

Czy planujecie dalej redukować zatrudnienie?

Do you plan to further reduce employment?

Adverb 'dalej' (further).

7

Redukowanie biurokracji jest priorytetem rządu.

Reducing bureaucracy is a government priority.

Abstract noun 'biurokracja'.

8

Musimy redukować straty energii w budynkach.

We must reduce energy losses in buildings.

Plural noun 'straty'.

1

Autor próbuje redukować złożoność teorii do kilku zasad.

The author tries to reduce the complexity of the theory to a few principles.

Structure 'redukować coś do czegoś'.

2

Należy stale redukować opór powietrza w nowych modelach.

It is necessary to constantly reduce air resistance in new models.

Impersonal 'należy'.

3

Redukowanie człowieka do roli konsumenta jest błędem.

Reducing a human to the role of a consumer is a mistake.

Philosophical context.

4

Leki te pomagają redukować objawy, ale nie leczą przyczyny.

These drugs help reduce symptoms but do not treat the cause.

Medical context.

5

Proces ten ma na celu redukować negatywny wpływ na środowisko.

This process aims to reduce the negative impact on the environment.

Phrase 'mieć na celu'.

6

Redukując dysonans poznawczy, zmieniamy nasze przekonania.

By reducing cognitive dissonance, we change our beliefs.

Psychological terminology.

7

Nie wolno redukować budżetu na edukację w czasie kryzysu.

One must not reduce the education budget during a crisis.

Prohibition 'nie wolno'.

8

Program pomaga redukować wykluczenie cyfrowe w regionie.

The program helps reduce digital exclusion in the region.

Social context 'wykluczenie cyfrowe'.

1

Postmodernizm często redukuje historię do zbioru narracji.

Postmodernism often reduces history to a collection of narratives.

Academic register.

2

W fizyce kwantowej nie można redukować układu do sumy jego części.

In quantum physics, one cannot reduce a system to the sum of its parts.

Scientific impossibility.

3

Redukowanie całego dyskursu do politycznych haseł jest szkodliwe.

Reducing the entire discourse to political slogans is harmful.

Sociological analysis.

4

Algorytm dąży do tego, by redukować błąd statystyczny do zera.

The algorithm aims to reduce the statistical error to zero.

Mathematical precision.

5

Czy sztuka powinna redukować rzeczywistość do czystej formy?

Should art reduce reality to pure form?

Aesthetic debate.

6

Redukując znaczenie tradycji, osłabiamy więzi społeczne.

By reducing the significance of tradition, we weaken social bonds.

Causal relationship.

7

Polityka ta ma redukować nierówności społeczne w sposób systemowy.

This policy is intended to reduce social inequalities systemically.

Policy language.

8

Nie da się redukować ludzkiej świadomości do procesów chemicznych.

It is impossible to reduce human consciousness to chemical processes.

Metaphysical assertion.

類義語

zmniejszać ograniczać obniżać ciąć minimalizować skracać upraszać temperować

反対語

zwiększać powiększać rozszerzać mnożyć

よく使う組み合わせ

redukować koszty
redukować stres
redukować bieg
redukować etaty
redukować emisję
redukować wagę
redukować ryzyko
redukować napięcie
redukować zapasy
redukować ułamek

よく使うフレーズ

redukować do minimum

— To reduce something to the lowest possible level.

Chcemy redukować formalności do minimum.

redukować do zera

— To eliminate something completely.

Planujemy redukować błędy do zera.

redukować o połowę

— To reduce something by half.

Musimy redukować zużycie prądu o połowę.

redukować zatrudnienie

— To lay off employees.

Korporacja redukuje zatrudnienie na całym świecie.

redukować dystans

— To close the gap between two things.

Nowy system pomaga redukować dystans do konkurencji.

redukować prędkość

— To slow down.

Zawsze redukuj prędkość przed szkołą.

redukować wpływ

— To lessen the impact of something.

Staramy się redukować wpływ inflacji.

redukować znaczenie

— To downplay the importance of something.

Nie można redukować znaczenia tej odkrycia.

redukować objawy

— To alleviate symptoms.

Lek pomaga redukować objawy alergii.

redukować biurokrację

— To cut red tape.

Rząd obiecał redukować biurokrację.

慣用句と表現

"redukować kogoś do parteru"

— To humiliate someone or bring them down to a very low level.

Szef zredukował go do parteru przy wszystkich.

colloquial
"redukować coś do wspólnego mianownika"

— To find common ground or simplify different things to one standard.

Próbujemy redukować te wszystkie pomysły do wspólnego mianownika.

formal
"redukować żagle"

— To scale back one's ambitions or activities.

Po porażce musiał nieco redukować żagle.

metaphorical
"redukować obroty"

— To slow down one's pace of life or work.

W wieku 60 lat postanowił redukować obroty.

informal
"redukować dystans (idiomatycznie)"

— To become closer to someone emotionally or socially.

Wspólna praca pomogła im redukować dystans.

neutral
"redukować do roli statysty"

— To make someone feel unimportant or sidelined.

Został zredukowany do roli statysty we własnej firmie.

journalistic
"redukować coś w zarodku"

— To stop something at the very beginning.

Musimy redukować ten konflikt w zarodku.

neutral
"redukować do poziomu zero"

— To completely reset or destroy.

Bombardowanie zredukowało miasto do poziomu zero.

formal/literary
"redukować koszty za wszelką cenę"

— To cut costs ruthlessly, regardless of consequences.

Zarząd chce redukować koszty za wszelką cenę.

business
"redukować napięcie (społeczne)"

— To calm down a heated social or political situation.

Nowa ustawa ma redukować napięcie społeczne.

political

語族

名詞

redukcja (reduction)
reduktor (reducer/gear)
redukcjonizm (reductionism)

動詞

zredukować (perfective form)
wyredukować (to reduce out)
przerdukować (rare technical)

形容詞

redukcyjny (reductive)
zredukowany (reduced)
nieredukowalny (irreducible)

関連

zmniejszanie
minimalizacja
obniżka
cięcie
uproszczenie

暗記しよう

記憶術

Think of a 'Reducto' spell from Harry Potter that breaks things down. 'Redukować' breaks down the size or amount of something.

視覚的連想

Imagine a large red arrow pointing downwards over a stack of money. The arrow is 'redukować'-ing the pile.

Word Web

koszty stres bieg emisja waga etaty ceny ryzyko

チャレンジ

Try to use 'redukować' three times today: once for something you eat, once for your work, and once for your driving/traveling.

語源

Derived from the Latin 'reducere', composed of 're-' (back) and 'ducere' (to lead). It entered Polish likely via French or German technical vocabulary.

元の意味: To lead back, to bring back to a former state.

Indo-European, via Latin.

文化的な背景

Be careful when using 'redukować' about people (staff), as it sounds very cold and corporate.

Directly equivalent to 'reduce', but Polish uses it more specifically for downshifting cars than English does.

Redukcja (a common term in Polish bodybuilding forums) Scientific papers on CO2 reduction Manual car driving manuals
役に立った?
まだコメントがありません。最初に考えをシェアしましょう!