Log in
5 strokes
Frequency: 718
JLPT N2
Grade 5

Meanings

pressure
push
overwhelm
oppress
dominate

Readings

On — Chinese-derived reading, usually for compounds
アツ
エン
オウ
Kun — Native Japanese reading, usually for standalone words
お.す
へ.す
おさ.える
お.さえる

Common Words

Godan verb
Freq #959
1

Transitive verb

to push; to thrust; to shove

Examples
シャッターを押してくれますか。
Could you press this button?
2

Transitive verb; Also written as 圧す

to press (down); to push (e.g. a button); to exert pressure on

3

Transitive verb; Also written as 捺す

to stamp (e.g. one's name); to affix (a seal)

Examples
その箱には製造者の証印が押してある
The box bears the stamp of the manufacturer.
4

Transitive verb

to affix (e.g. gold leaf)

5

Transitive verb

to push (someone for something); to press; to put pressure on (someone)

6

Transitive verb; Usu. in the passive; also written as 圧す

to overwhelm; to overpower; to put (someone) under pressure; to be superior to

7

Intransitive verb

to push ahead (with a policy, plan, etc.); to proceed; to stick to

8

Transitive verb; As ...を押して...

to do ... in spite of ...; to defy; to brave; to push aside

9

Transitive verb

to make sure

10

Intransitive verb

to fall behind schedule

11

Intransitive verb; Go (game)

to push; to extend one's stones forward by pushing against opponent’s stones

押える
さえ
Transitive
Ichidan verb
Freq #1590
1

Also written as 圧さえる

to pin down; to hold down; to press down; to hold in place; to hold steady

Examples
このはしごをしっかり押さえてくれ。
Hold this ladder steady.
2

to cover (esp. a part of one's body with one's hand); to clutch (a body part in pain); to press (a body part)

3

to get a hold of; to obtain; to seize; to catch; to arrest

Examples
警察はその強盗の首を押さえた
The police seized the robber by the neck.
4

to grasp (a point); to comprehend

Examples
私は彼が私の悪口を言っているところを押さえた
I caught him speaking ill of me.
5

to quell; to subdue; to suppress; to repress; to hold back; to check; to curb; to contain

っとうてき
~な Adj.
Freq #2256
1

overwhelming

Examples
私たちの行動の圧倒的な部分は学んで身についたものだ。
An overwhelming part of our behavior is learned.
っとう
~する Verb
Noun
Transitive
Freq #4947
1

to overwhelm (e.g. an opponent); to overpower; to crush; to defeat completely

Examples
彼は彼女の愛情の強さに圧倒された。
He was overwhelmed by the intensity of her love.
2

Usu. in the passive as 圧倒される

to overwhelm (someone with emotion); to move; to impress; to fill with emotion

3

to intimidate; to frighten; to threaten

りょく
Noun
Freq #5277
1

Physics

pressure; stress

Examples
橋が圧力で落ちた。
The bridge crashed under the pressure.
2

pressure (e.g. political); coercion; arm-twisting

Examples
その計画は世論の圧力で中止になった。
The plan was given up under the pressure of public opinion.
しころ
圧し殺す
Godan verb
Transitive
Freq #6332
1

to crush to death; to press to death; to squeeze to death

2

to suppress (a laugh, one's anger, etc.); to stifle; to subdue (one's voice); to hold (one's breath)

っぱく
~する Verb
Noun
Transitive
Freq #7056
1

pressure

Examples
その政府は国民を圧迫した。
The government oppressed the people.
2

oppression; suppression

いあつ
~する Verb
Noun
Transitive
Freq #8528
1

gaining total control (of people or counties); suppression; oppression; control; mastery; ascendancy; supremacy

Examples
軍隊は反乱を制圧した。
The army had the revolt well in hand.
いあつかん
Noun
Freq #8925
1

intimidating air; sense of intimidation

押し潰す
しつぶ
圧し潰す
Godan verb
Transitive
Freq #9164
1

to crush; to squash; to flatten

Examples
天井が落ちれば、彼は押しつぶされるだろう。
If the ceiling fell, he would be crushed.
2

to quash (a plan, opposition, etc.); to crush; to suppress

Memory Mnemonics

Keywords

The core concepts or meanings associated with this specific kanji.

pressure

Constituents

The visual building blocks used to craft this character's story.

cliff
🧩 dirt
🧩 ground
soil

Mnemonic Stories

A cliff exerts tremendous pressure on the soil below it.

🎓

Master this Kanji through Practice

Don't just read about it—lock it in. Our spaced-repetition kanji quiz uses the same mnemonics to help you remember keywords and characters forever.