Readings: ハク (Onyomi), せま.る (Kunyomi)
Meaning: Urge, press, compel, draw near, imminent, close in
The kanji 迫 combines the radical ⻌ (辵, “movement,” “walk”) with 白 (haku, “white,” here used phonetically and possibly implying “clearing the way” or “making something clear by pushing through”). Together, they suggest “to move in on,” “to press closely,” or “to approach urgently.”
View JLPT N1 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 迫 has 8 strokes. It begins with the radical ⻌ on the left, which is written in 3 strokes (a vertical stroke, then a horizontal-hook, then a diagonal-sweep). The right component 白 is then written, starting with the vertical stroke, followed by the horizontal strokes, and finally the inner vertical and the bottom horizontal.
Kanji Details
| Radical | ⻌ (しんにょう) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 8 |
| JLPT Level | N1 |
| Grade | Unassigned |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- ハク (HAKU)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- せま.る (sema.ru)
Common Words Using 迫
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 圧迫 | あっぱく | pressure, oppression, coercion |
| 切迫 | せっぱく | urgency, pressure, imminence |
| 強迫 | きょうはく | compulsion, obsession (often used with 観念 for “obsessive thoughts”) |
| 迫力 | はくりょく | impact, force, intensity, presence |
| 緊迫 | きんぱく | tension, strain, urgency |
| 迫害 | はくがい | persecution |
| 威迫 | いはく | intimidation, threat |
| 強迫観念 | きょうはくかんねん | obsessive thoughts, idée fixe |
| 臨迫 | りんぱく | approaching, impending |
| 圧迫感 | あっぱくかん | feeling of pressure/oppression |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 迫る | せまる | to approach, to draw near, to urge, to press |
| 追い迫る | おいせまる | to chase closely, to corner |
| 間近に迫る | まぢかにせまる | to be close at hand, to be imminent |
| 真に迫る | しんにせまる | to be lifelike, realistic, true to life |
| 胸に迫る | むねにせまる | to move one deeply, to choke up |
| 迫り来る | せまりくる | to approach (actively), to loom |
| 問い迫る | とひせまる | to press with questions, to interrogate |
| 時間に迫られる | じかんにせまられる | to be pressed for time |
| 危機に迫る | ききにせまる | to approach a crisis |
| 迫りくる危機 | せまりくるきき | an approaching crisis |
Example Sentences
Japanese: 危機が間近に迫っている。
Kana: ききがまぢかにせまっている。
Romaji: Kiki ga majika ni sematte iru.
English: A crisis is drawing near.
Japanese: 締め切りが迫っているので、急がなければならない。
Kana: しめきりがせまっているので、いそがなければならない。
Romaji: Shimekiri ga sematte iru node, isoganakereba naranai.
English: The deadline is approaching, so I have to hurry.
Japanese: その映画の戦闘シーンは迫力があった。
Kana: そのえいがのせんとうシーンははくりょくがあった。
Romaji: Sono eiga no sentō shīn wa hakuryoku ga atta.
English: The battle scenes in that movie had great impact/intensity.
Japanese: 彼は強迫観念にとらわれていた。
Kana: かれはきょうはくかんねんのとらわれていた。
Romaji: Kare wa kyōhaku kannen ni torawarete ita.
English: He was tormented by obsessive thoughts.
Japanese: 緊迫した状況の中、交渉が続いた。
Kana: きんぱくしたじょうきょうのなか、こうしょうがつづいた。
Romaji: Kinpaku shita jōkyō no naka, kōshō ga tsuzuita.
English: Negotiations continued amidst a tense situation.
Japanese: 警察は真実に迫るために徹底的な捜査を行った。
Kana: けいさつはしんじつにせまるためにてっていてきなそうさをおこなった。
Romaji: Keisatsu wa shinjitsu ni semaru tame ni tetteiteki na sōsa o okonatta.
English: The police conducted a thorough investigation to get closer to the truth.
Japanese: その芸術作品は、見る者に強い圧迫感を与えた。
Kana: そのげいじゅつさくひんは、みるものにつよいあっぱくかんをあたえた。
Romaji: Sono geijutsu sakuhin wa, miru mono ni tsuyoi appaku-kan o ataeta.
English: That work of art gave viewers a strong feeling of oppression.
Japanese: 歴史上の人物が受けた迫害について学んだ。
Kana: れきしじょうのじんぶつがうけたはくがいについてまなんだ。
Romaji: Rekishi-jō no jinbutsu ga uketa hakugai ni tsuīte mananda.
English: I learned about the persecution historical figures faced.
Japanese: 彼の話はあまりに真に迫っていて、まるでその場にいるようだった。
Kana: かれのはなしはあまりにしんにせまっていて、まるでそのばにいるようだった。
Romaji: Kare no hanashi wa amari ni shin ni sematte ite, marude sono ba ni iru yō datta.
English: His story was so realistic, it felt as if I was right there.
Japanese: 時間に迫られて、彼は急いで仕事を終えた。
Kana: じかんにせまられて、かれはいそいでしごとをおえた。
Romaji: Jikan ni semararete, kare wa isoide shigoto o oeta.
English: Pressed for time, he quickly finished the work.
Related Grammar & kanji list
Expand your study with grammar and kanji lists for other JLPT levels:
I’m a software engineer based in Japan, with experience in developing web and mobile applications. I’m passionate about technology, especially in DevOps, AI, and app development using platforms like AWS, Flutter, and Node.js. My goal is to build a website that shares knowledge about the Japanese language and IT, helping everyone learn and grow more easily in the digital era.