Translation guide
The act of pressing something firmly, usually to extract liquid, reduce size, or fit through a tight space. Japanese uses different verbs depending on what is being squeezed and the result.
To press something so that liquid comes out.
General verb for squeezing liquid out of something like a towel, fruit, or tube. Can also mean to wring out.
タオルを絞って干した。
I wrung out the towel and hung it up.
レモンを絞ってジュースを作った。
I squeezed lemons and made juice.
Same reading as 絞る, but specifically used for extracting juice or oil from fruits, seeds, etc. Often seen in compounds like 搾乳 (milking).
オリーブを搾って油を取る。
They press olives to extract oil.
To squeeze out forcibly, often used for the last bit of something from a tube or container, or metaphorically for effort.
歯磨き粉をチューブから絞り出した。
I squeezed the toothpaste out of the tube.
To press something firmly, often with hands, to change its shape or test firmness.
To grip or squeeze in one's hand. Used for grasping objects firmly.
ストレスボールを握った。
I squeezed a stress ball.
To crush or squash by pressing. Implies flattening or deforming.
To rub, knead, or squeeze with hands, often in a massaging or crumpling motion.
紙をもんで柔らかくした。
I crumpled the paper to soften it.
To force oneself or something through a narrow or crowded area.
To slip or squeeze through a crowd or narrow space, often by moving sideways.
人混みをすり抜けて前に出た。
I squeezed through the crowd and got to the front.
To push or squeeze into a line or tight space, often with a nuance of cutting in.
To be packed or squeezed tightly, like in a crowded train.
電車がぎゅうぎゅう詰めだった。
The train was jam-packed (we were squeezed in tight).
To press a body part, often to extract something or show affection.
To pop or squeeze a pimple, blister, etc. Also means to crush.
にきびをつぶしてしまった。
I squeezed the pimple.
To squeeze someone's hand back, as in a handshake or affectionate gesture.
彼女は私の手を握り返した。
She squeezed my hand back.
To put pressure on someone, often financially or in a difficult situation.
To pressure or squeeze financially, mentally, or physically. Often used in economic contexts.
家計を圧迫する出費。
Expenses that squeeze the household budget.
To tighten or squeeze, often used metaphorically for oppressive control or strictness.
規則で締め付けられる。
To be squeezed by regulations.
Both read しぼる. 絞る is the common character for wringing out towels, squeezing lemons, or focusing something. 搾る is specifically for extracting liquids like juice or oil, and appears in words like 搾乳 (milking). In everyday writing, 絞る is often used for both.
For hugging or squeezing someone in an embrace, use 抱きしめる (だきしめる) or ハグする. 絞る would sound like you are wringing them out.
箱を押しつぶして捨てた。
I crushed the box and threw it away.
列に割り込まないでください。
Please don't squeeze into the line.