狭める

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 狭める is read as せばめる and is a transitive verb meaning to deliberately narrow a range, selection, or physical space.
• Basic usage: Use 候補を三つまで狭める for narrowing candidates down to three and 通路を狭める for making a passage narrower.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Difference between 狭める and 狭くなる
  • The former is transitive and has someone narrow an object, whereas the latter is intransitive and describes something becoming narrow.