痩せる

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 痩せる is read as やせる and is an intransitive verb meaning to lose weight or become thin.
• Basic usage: Losing a little weight from being busy appears in 忙しさで少し痩せる, while not trying to lose weight excessively appears in 無理に痩せようとしない.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Volitional form with とする
  • An attempt to lose weight is 痩せようとする; negate it as 痩せようとしない for not making that attempt.
• Difference from 減量する
  • Unlike deliberately reducing weight toward a goal, this verb can also describe unintended weight loss.