Meaning

Primary

To Wring Out

Alternatives

To Squeeze, To Narrow Down

Word Type

transitive verb, godan verb

Explanation

You've learned that the kanji means strangle. 絞る, on the other hand, means to wring out or to squeeze something like a towel, or to narrow down ideas.

Reading

しぼる
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

Your friend wants to wring out a towel, but before she does so she bows (しぼ) to the towel to show her respect for it.

Context

Context Sentences

母乳を絞りながら、コンロにやかんをかけました。

I put a kettle on the stove while pumping out my breast milk.

ぞうきんを絞った手を洗わないでそのまま食べ物を食べるなんて信じられない!

I can't believe that you eat food with hands that you didn't wash after wringing out a dust cloth.

意地悪な上司との関係をどうやって保つか、毎日知恵を絞っています。

I rack my brain every day about how to manage my relationship with my mean boss.

Kanji Composition