Japanese word

押す

Pronunciation

Romajiosu

Meaning

  • verbpush

Example

ドアを押します。do a o o shi ma su

I push the door.

Illustration for 押す (push)

More examples

ボタンを押します。bo ta n o o shi ma su

I push the button.

自動ドアは、横のボタンを押すと開きます。ji dō do a wa yoko no bo ta n o o su to hira ki ma su

The automatic door opens when you press the button on the side.

Core concept

Describes directing force against something to move it away or make it respond.

Common phrases

  • ボタンを押すbo ta n o o su

    press a button

  • スイッチを押すsu i tchi o o su

    press a switch

Definition in Japanese

手などを当てて力を加え、物を前方へ動かしたり、動かないように押さえたりする。te na do o a te te chikara o kuwa e mono o zen pō e ugo ka shi ta ri ugo ka na i yō ni o sa e ta ri su ru

Word origin

押す (osu, "to push") is a native Japanese verb rather than a loanword or Sino-Japanese compound, and its simple form carries the verb's basic sense directly.

Usage tips

  • In everyday Japanese, 押す (osu) describes both pushing a door and pressing a button, while English commonly uses push and press for these two actions.

Other meanings

  • pressverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 押し方oshikataway to pushnoun

Word lists with this word