How to say "press" in Japanese

• 促すうながすJLPT N1approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbCovers 'press' in the sense of urging or prompting someone to do something: gentle encouragement rather than force, as when pressing a hesitant person to decide, reply, or take action.
  彼かれは彼女かのじょに注意ちゅういして運転うんてんするようにと促うながした。↗

  He urged her to drive carefully.
• 急かすせかすJLPT N1approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbCovers 'press' when you are pressing someone to hurry up: its core sense is rushing a slow-moving person, so the pressing always carries time pressure, as when hurrying someone dawdling over a task.
  急せかしたくはないけど、次つぎのバスに乗のろう。↗

  I don't want to rush you, but let's try to catch the next bus.
• 報道機関ほうどうきかんCommon
  nounThis is the noun 'press' meaning the news media as an institution — newspapers, broadcasters, journalists — as in 'freedom of the press'; it only fits noun uses, never the verb 'to press'.
  報道ほうどう機関きかんは現職げんしょく議員ぎいんについてはいつもマル秘まるひ情報じょうほうをつかんでいます。↗

  The press always has something on the incumbent.
• 強いるしいるJLPT N1approx.Common
  ichidan verb, transitive verbCovers 'press' as in pressuring someone: to force, compel, or coerce a person into doing or accepting something. Choose it when pressing someone means leaving them little choice, not gently urging them on.
  彼かれらは我々われわれに服従ふくじゅうを強しいた。↗

  They enforced obedience upon us.
• 押すおすJLPT N5approx.Common
  godan verb, transitive verbThe literal, physical sense: to press down on something, push a button, or exert pressure on an object. This is the word you want whenever 'press' involves actual physical force.
  シャッターを押おしてくれますか。↗

  Could you press this button?

Use 「押す」 for physically pressing a button or object, 報道機関 for the press as news media, and among the verbs for pressing people choose 「促す」 (urge), 「急かす」 (rush), or 「強いる」 (coerce).

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 促すうながすto urge
• 急かすせかすto hurry (up)
• 報道機関ほうどうきかんinformation media
• 強いるしいるto force
• 圧するあっするto press
• 印刷所いんさつじょpress
• 圧すあっすto press
• 責め落とすせめおとすto press (someone to do something)
• プレス機プレスきpress
• 畳み掛けるたたみかけるto give no leeway
• 急き立てるせきたてるto hurry (up)
• 急かせるせかせるto hurry (up)
• 絞り器しぼりきwringer (clothes)
• 圧搾機あっさくきcompressor
• 圧力を加えるあつりょくをくわえるto apply pressure to
• 重しをするおもしをするto place a weight upon (e.g. when making pickles)
• プレッシャーをかけるto pressure
• 急がすいそがすto hurry (someone to do)
• 急がせるいそがせるto hurry (someone to do)
• 締木しめぎ(oil) press
• 押すおすto press (down)
• 迫るせまるto press (someone for something)
• 押さえるおさえるto cover (esp. a part of one's body with one's hand)
• しぼるto squeeze (fruit to extract juice)
• プレスpress (machine)
• 責めるせめるto urge
• 突き上げるつきあげるto put pressure on (one's superiors)
• 詰め寄るつめよるto press (e.g. for an answer)
• 擬するぎするto press (e.g. a weapon against someone's back)
• 督するとくするto press
• 擬すぎすto press (e.g. a weapon against someone's back)
• 揉み立てるもみたてるto press
• 責め立てるせめたてるto urge
• 摩するまするto draw near
• 寄せるよせるto press
• 突っ張るつっぱるto push out (one's legs or arms)