Readings: オウ (Onyomi), お(す), お(さえる), お(し) (Kunyomi)
Meaning: Push, press, stamp, seal, hold down, control
The kanji 押 combines the hand radical 扌 (tehen) on the left, which indicates an action performed with the hand, and the character 甲 (kō, kabuto) on the right. 甲, while primarily meaning “shell” or “armor,” functions here phonetically and also implies a pressing or covering action, contributing to the overall meaning of pushing or pressing.
View JLPT N3 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The stroke order for 押 begins with the three strokes of the left-side hand radical (扌): first the vertical stroke, then the two short horizontal strokes. For the right part (甲), draw the vertical stroke, followed by the three horizontal strokes, then the encompassing box-like structure, and finally the last vertical stroke that cuts through the bottom.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 扌 (てへん) |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 8 |
| JLPT Level | N3 |
| Grade | 3 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- オウ (Ō)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- おす (osu)
- おさえる (osaeru)
Common Words Using 押
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 押印 | おういん | stamping (one’s seal); affixing a seal |
| 押収 | おうしゅう | seizure; confiscation |
| 押送 | おうそう | escorting; sending under escort |
| 押韻 | おういん | rhyming; rhyme |
| 押下 | おうか | pressing down (e.g., a key) |
| 押圧 | おうあつ | pressure; coercion; repression |
| 押出 | おうしゅつ | extrusion (manufacturing) |
| 押領 | おうりょう | occupation; seizure (historical, legal) |
| 押引 | おういん | push and pull (less common, often metaphorical) |
| 押込 | おうこん | (rare) pushing in; forcing in |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 押す | おす | to push; to press |
| 押さえる | おさえる | to hold down; to restrain; to check |
| 押しボタン | おしボタン | push button |
| 押し入れ | おしいれ | closet; sliding-door storage |
| 押し出す | おしだす | to push out; to extrude |
| 押し切る | おしきる | to push through; to overcome (opposition) |
| 押し寄せる | おしよせる | to surge forward; to push aside; to flock to |
| 押し付ける | おしつける | to impose; to force (on someone) |
| 押し戻す | おしもどす | to push back; to send back |
| 押し問答 | おしもんどう | dispute; argument; heated discussion |
Example Sentences
Japanese: ドアを強く押してください。
Kana: ドアをつよくおしてください。
Romaji: Doa o tsuyoku oshite kudasai.
English: Please push the door hard.
Japanese: 彼は倒れた木を一人で押さえた。
Kana: かれはたおれたきをひとりで押さえた。
Romaji: Kare wa taoreta ki o hitori de osaeta.
English: He held down the fallen tree by himself.
Japanese: このボタンを押すと電気がつきます。
Kana: このボタンをおすとでんきがつきます。
Romaji: Kono botan o osu to denki ga tsukimasu.
English: If you push this button, the light will turn on.
Japanese: 古い布団は押入れにしまってある。
Kana: ふるいふとんはおしいれにしまってある。
Romaji: Furui futon wa oshiire ni shimatte aru.
English: The old futon is stored in the closet.
Japanese: 人混みで前に押し出された。
Kana: ひとごみでまえにおしだされた。
Romaji: Hitogomi de mae ni oshidasareta.
English: I was pushed forward in the crowd.
Japanese: 彼の猛反対を押し切って計画を進めた。
Kana: かれのもうはんたいをおしきってけいかくをすすめた。
Romaji: Kare no mōhantai o oshikitte keikaku o susumeta.
English: I pushed through his strong opposition and proceeded with the plan.
Japanese: 大勢の観光客がこの観光地に押し寄せた。
Kana: おおぜいのかんこうきゃくがこのかんこうちにおしよせた。
Romaji: Ōzei no kankōkyaku ga kono kankōchi ni oshiyoseta.
English: A large number of tourists flocked to this tourist spot.
Japanese: 自分の意見ばかり押し付けるのはやめなさい。
Kana: じぶんのいけんばかりおしつけるのはやめなさい。
Romaji: Jibun no iken bakari oshitsukeru no wa yamenasai.
English: Stop forcing only your opinions on others.
Japanese: この棚は壁から少し押し戻されている。
Kana: このたなはかべからすこしおしもどされている。
Romaji: Kono tana wa kabe kara sukoshi oshimodosarete iru.
English: This shelf is slightly pushed back from the wall.
Japanese: 大切な書類には必ず押印してください。
Kana: たいせつなしょるいにはかならずおういんしてください。
Romaji: Taisetsu na shorui ni wa kanarazu ōin shite kudasai.
English: Please be sure to affix your seal on important documents.
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