Ways to say it
| Japanese | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| 絞る | shiboru | [ɕibo̞ɾɯ̟] (narrow) |
| 押す | osu | [o̞sɨ] (narrow) |
The verb 絞る is used to describe applying pressure from multiple sides to wring out or extract liquid from something, such as wringing a towel or squeezing a lemon. When you want to emphasize the effort involved in squeezing something out, such as squeezing out a few words or a small amount of juice, the compound verb 絞り出す is often used. This is distinct from 握る, which implies grasping or clenching something tightly and しめ込む, which means to jam or stuff something tightly into a limited space.
Which one should you use?
While 押す means to push, it refers to a single directional force. In contrast, 絞る involves applying pressure from two or more sides at once to extract something or wring it out. Additionally, 絞る is specifically used for actions like squeezing a tube of toothpaste or wringing a cloth, whereas 握る focuses on the act of gripping or clenching.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
shiboru
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use 押す to mean squeeze. 押す refers to a single directional push, whereas a squeeze requires pressure from multiple sides.
Did you know?
- The verb 絞る is also the term used in Japanese for 'to narrow down' or 'to refine', such as narrowing down a list of candidates.
- In traditional Japanese arts, the word 絞り (shibori) refers to a famous tie-dyeing technique. This method relies on squeezing and binding fabric tightly to create intricate, resist-dyed patterns.
- If you are struggling to speak through tears or heavy emotion, you can use the phrase 絞り出す to describe 'squeezing out' your words. It captures the physical struggle of forcing sound out of a constricted throat.
Examples in context
- 彼はタオルをしぼった。He squeezed the towel.
- レモンを絞る。Remon o shiboru.Squeeze a lemon.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “squeeze” translations and entries 絞る, 押す, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
