しぼる・絞る・搾るshiboru[2]nakadaka (mid-high)

JLPT N2approx.Common
Which spelling to use
絞る絞る is the more common of these two kanji-and-kana spellings and the recommended default for beginners; this word is usually written in kana alone.
搾る搾る is a less common variant of 絞る. You may encounter it in writing, but beginners should use 絞る instead.
Definitions
  1. godan verb, transitive verbto wring (towel, rag); to squeezeesp. 絞る
  2. godan verb, transitive verbto squeeze (fruit to extract juice); to press; to extract; to milk; to express milkesp. 搾る
    はい。ここに私わたしたちが牛うしのミルクをしぼった牧場ぼくじょうの写真しゃしんがありますよ。↗
    Yes, and here's a photo of the farm where we milked the cows.
  3. godan verb, transitive verbto rack (one's brains); to strain (one's voice)
  4. godan verb, transitive verbto extort; to exploit
  5. godan verb, transitive verbto chew out; to reprimand severely; to rake over the coals; to give a sound scolding; to tell someone off; to scold; to rebukeoften passive voice
  6. godan verb, transitive verbto drill into; to train
  7. godan verb, transitive verbto narrow down (one's focus); to whittle down
  8. godan verb, transitive verbto gather up (curtain, etc.); to tighten (drawstring)
  9. godan verb, transitive verbto stop down (lens)
  10. godan verb, transitive verbto turn down (e.g. radio)
  11. godan verb, transitive verbto bend (bow); to draw
  12. godan verb, transitive verb, sumoto hold down; to constrict; to immobilize
  13. godan verb, transitive verb, goto squeeze
Conjugation
Dictionary formしぼる
Polite (masu)しぼります
Negative (nai)しぼらない
polite (masen)しぼりません
classical zu / nuしぼらず・しぼらぬ
Past (ta)しぼった
polite (mashita)しぼりました
Past negative (nakatta)しぼらなかった
polite (masen deshita)しぼりませんでした
Te formしぼって
Potentialしぼれる
Passiveしぼられる
Causativeしぼらせる
Causative passiveしぼらせられる・しぼらされる
Conditional (ba)しぼれば
taraしぼったら
Volitionalしぼろう
polite (mashou)しぼりましょう
Imperativeしぼれ

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym絞り込むしぼりこむNeutralNarrows down or filters a range, as in 「候補を絞り込む」; 「絞る」 can also express this sense.
  • Synonym絞り出すしぼりだすNeutralFocuses on getting something out — squeezing out toothpaste or a voice — while 「絞る」 centers on the wringing or squeezing action itself.
  • Synonym絞り上げるしぼりあげるNeutralWringing or squeezing with full force; figuratively scolding someone harshly or extorting money — more forceful than 「絞る」.
  • Related搾り取るしぼりとるNeutralTo squeeze out or extract; mostly figurative for exploiting someone of money, while 「絞る」 also covers wringing out a towel.
  • Antonym緩めるゆるめるNeutralTo loosen or relax — the opposite of 「絞る」 when tightening the mouth of a bag or rope, or narrowing down a range.
  • Antonym広げるひろげるNeutralTo spread or expand — the opposite of 「絞る」 when it means narrowing down a range.
  • AntonymひらくNeutralTo open — the opposite of 「絞る」 when it means tightening.

Use 「絞る」 for wringing a towel, squeezing juice, narrowing down, or racking your brains. Say 「絞り出す」 for squeezing something out, 「搾り取る」 for exploiting, 「絞り込む」 for filtering, and 「緩める」 for loosening.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 【絞しぼる】強つよくねじるなどして水分すいぶんを出だす。
  2. 【搾しぼる】押おさえつけたり握にぎったりして液体えきたいを出だす。
  3. 自然しぜんにはなかなか出でてこないものを無理むりに出だす。
  4. きつく責せめる。
  5. 厳きびしく鍛きたえる。
  6. 【絞しぼる】範囲はんいを狭せばめる。
  7. 【絞しぼる】(写真しゃしん)レンズの絞しぼりを小ちいさくする。
  8. 【絞しぼる】ラジオの音量おんりょうを小ちいさくする。
  9. 【絞しぼる】(相撲すもう)上手じょうずで相手あいての腕うでをつかみ、相手あいての重心じゅうしんを浮うかせようとする。
  10. 【絞しぼる】絞り染しぼりぞめにする。
  11. 【絞しぼる】弓ゆみをしっかりと張はる。
English equivalents
See also

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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