1To put something into a container or designated place, or to return it to its proper spot — to stow, store, or pack away. Common in 箱に収める, カバンに収める.
古い写真をアルバムに収めて、押し入れにしまった。
I put the old photos into an album and stored them in the closet.
使い終わった工具は元の棚に収めてください。
Please put the tools back on their shelf when you're done with them.
貴重品はホテルの金庫に収めておいた。
I put my valuables in the hotel safe.
2To include a work in an anthology, collection, or catalog; also to capture something on film or video. Seen in アルバムに収める, ビデオに収める, 写真に収める.
彼の代表作はすべてこの全集に収められている。
All of his major works are included in this complete collection.
美しい夕日をカメラに収めた。
I captured the beautiful sunset with my camera.
結婚式の様子を映像に収めて、後で家族と見返した。
We recorded the wedding on video and watched it again later with the family.
3To achieve, win, or attain — used for results that come from effort. Stock collocations: 成功を収める (to achieve success), 勝利を収める (to win victory), 成果を収める (to attain results), 利益を収める (to make a profit).
彼の新作映画は世界中で大成功を収めた。
His latest film achieved huge success worldwide.
日本代表は決勝戦で勝利を収めた。
Japan's national team won the final match.
この事業は予想以上の利益を収めた。
This business made more profit than expected.
長年の研究がようやく成果を収めつつある。
Years of research are finally beginning to bear fruit.
4To pay taxes, fees, dues, or tuition to the proper authority; also to deliver or supply (goods, documents) to the designated place. Stock collocations: 税金を納める, 会費を納める, 品物を納める.
毎年三月までに税金を納めなければならない。
You have to pay your taxes by March each year.
授業料は今月末までに銀行に納めてください。
Please pay your tuition to the bank by the end of this month.
うちの工場は毎月、部品を自動車メーカーに納めている。
Our factory delivers parts to the automobile maker every month.
5To accept or receive a gift or money. Mostly seen in polite formulas like お納めください or ご笑納ください ('please accept this'), used when offering something to someone.
ささやかですが、お納めください。
It's just a small token, but please accept it.
つまらないものですが、ご笑納いただければ幸いです。
It's nothing special, but I'd be glad if you would accept it.
6To keep something — an amount, degree, or range — within a set limit or frame. Used in 予算を〜以内に収める (keep within budget), 話を短く収める (keep the talk brief), and 画角に収める (fit into the frame of a photo).
工事費用は予算内に収めるよう努めている。
We're working to keep the construction costs within budget.
発表は十分以内に収めてください。
Please keep your presentation within ten minutes.
広い景色をうまく一枚の写真に収めるのは難しい。
It's hard to fit a wide scene neatly into a single photo.
7To offer or dedicate money, offerings, or amulets to a shrine or temple. Used in expressions like お札を納める (to dedicate an amulet) and 初穂料を納める (to offer a votive fee).
古いお札は神社に納めて、新しいものをいただいた。
I returned the old amulet to the shrine and received a new one.
七五三のお参りで初穂料を納めた。
We offered the votive fee at the Shichi-Go-San shrine visit.
8To suppress, subdue, or settle a disturbance, riot, or quarrel — to bring calm to a chaotic situation. Overlaps with 治める; for the 'govern a country' sense, use 治める instead.
暴動を収めるために警察が出動した。
The police were dispatched to suppress the riot.
彼は冷静な対応で場の混乱を収めた。
He settled the chaos in the room with a calm response.
9As a suffix 〜納め attached to a verb's stem, denotes the last instance of an action in a given year or period — 仕事納め (year-end final workday), 見納め (last viewing), 飲み納め (final drink of the year), 弾き納め (final performance). The standalone verb 納める in the sense of 'to finish/conclude' is rare in modern usage.
今日は仕事納めなので、職場で軽く打ち上げをする予定だ。
Today is our year-end final workday, so we're planning a little wrap-up gathering at the office.
この建物が取り壊されるので、今日が見納めだ。
Since this building is being torn down, today is the last chance to see it.
明日から禁酒するので、これが飲み納めだ。
I'm quitting drinking starting tomorrow, so this is my farewell drink.