How do you say "to push" in Japanese?

押す

osu

Verb Kanji

In Japanese, "to push" is 押す (osu).

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Pronunciation

押す is written using kanji. Romanised as osu, it sounds roughly like "oh-soo" to an English ear.

Writing and usage

Osu (押す) uses the kanji for press or push. It applies to buttons, doors, or anything requiring applied force.

Example sentence

子供たちは押しますのが楽しそうです。

Kodomotachi wa oshimasu no ga tanoshisou desu.

The children seem to enjoy pushing.

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How to remember 押す

Osu contains a hand radical and pressure marker. The action involves applying hand force in one direction.

Related words

Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.

See more Japanese verbs.

Questions about 押す

How do you pronounce 押す?

押す is romanised as osu. Say it roughly like "oh-soo" in English. Each Japanese syllable has even weight, so keep the rhythm steady.

Is 押す formal or casual?

押す is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech. The level of formality comes from the sentence structure around it, not from the word itself.

How is 押す written in Japanese?

押す is written using kanji. Osu (押す) uses the kanji for press or push.

Where can I practice Japanese words for free?

You can play free Japanese minigames in your browser on the Noun Town online games page, with no sign-up needed. Every word in the Japanese glossary also has native audio and an example sentence you can revisit any time.

"To push" in other languages

Curated by Callan Ratcliffe

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