Translation guide
The English verb "squeeze" covers many physical actions and figurative uses. In Japanese, different words are used depending on what is being squeezed, how, and why. This guide organizes the most common meanings for learners.
To compress something by hand to extract liquid, shape it, or apply pressure.
General verb for squeezing to extract liquid (e.g., towel, fruit) or wringing out. Also used for squeezing a tube (e.g., toothpaste).
タオルを絞って干した。
I squeezed the towel and hung it up to dry.
レモンを絞ってジュースを作った。
I squeezed lemons and made juice.
To grip or squeeze in one's hand, often without extracting liquid. Used for squeezing a stress ball, someone's hand, or forming a rice ball.
彼はストレスボールを握った。
He squeezed a stress ball.
Technical term for mechanical pressing or squeezing, e.g., in oil extraction.
この工場では大豆を圧搾して油を取る。
This factory squeezes soybeans to extract oil.
To embrace someone firmly, often with emotion.
To hug tightly, often with affection or comfort. The most natural equivalent for a warm, tight embrace.
彼女は子供をぎゅっと抱きしめた。
She squeezed her child tightly.
Formal or literary word for embrace. Not used in casual conversation.
再会を喜び、二人は抱擁した。
Rejoicing at their reunion, the two squeezed each other in an embrace.
To force oneself or something into a small or crowded area.
To cram or pack tightly into a space. Used for both objects and people.
私たちは満員電車に詰め込まれた。
We were squeezed into the packed train.
スーツケースに服を詰め込んだ。
I squeezed clothes into the suitcase.
To push or force into a tight space, often with effort.
Describes a state of being packed like sardines. Often used for crowded places.
電車がぎゅうぎゅう詰めで動けなかった。
The train was so squeezed I couldn't move.
To pressure someone into giving money, time, or resources.
To squeeze out (money, profit, labor) from someone, often with a negative connotation of exploitation.
大家が家賃を搾り取る。
The landlord squeezes rent out of tenants.
To force or coerce someone into doing something, including giving money or concessions.
彼らは寄付を強要された。
They were squeezed for donations.
To make someone pay against their will; a more descriptive phrase.
彼は友人に食事代を無理に払わせた。
He squeezed his friend for the meal cost.
To pass through a tight space by compressing one's body.
To slip or squeeze through a crowd or narrow gap, often quickly.
彼は人混みをすり抜けた。
He squeezed through the crowd.
To press or pull a trigger or button, often with a squeezing motion.
To pull a trigger. The standard verb for firing a gun.
彼は引き金を引いた。
He squeezed the trigger.
To grip or squeeze a handle or lever, sometimes used for triggers in certain contexts.
English "squeeze" as a hug is not directly translated as 絞る (which means wring out liquid). Use 抱きしめる for a tight, affectionate hug.
絞る implies extracting liquid or wringing; 握る implies gripping in the hand. For squeezing a lemon, use 絞る; for squeezing a hand, use 握る.
サラダにレモンを絞ってくれますか？
Could you squeeze some lemon on my salad?
満員のエレベーターに詰め込んだ。
I squeezed into the crowded elevator.
彼は本をカバンに押し込んだ。
He squeezed the book into his bag.
To pass through a narrow space, more general than すり抜ける.
狭い隙間を通り抜けた。
I squeezed through a narrow gap.
He squeezed the handle.