Japanese symbol for “quell”
押さえる
おさえる
Romaji: osaeru
to pin down; to hold down; to press down; to hold in place
In Japanese, quell is 押さえる, read おさえる (osaeru).
Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.
Meanings
- v1, vt to pin down; to hold down; to press down; to hold in place; to hold steady
- v1, vt to cover (esp. a part of one's body with one's hand); to clutch (a body part in pain); to press (a body part)
- v1, vt to get a hold of; to obtain; to seize; to catch; to arrest
- v1, vt to grasp (a point); to comprehend
- v1, vt to reserve (time, space, or availability); to hold; to block off (a schedule); to secure; to pin down (a date)
- v1, vt to quell; to subdue; to suppress; to repress; to hold back; to check
Written forms: 押さえる、押える、圧さえる. Readings: おさえる.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “quell”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 抑える | おさえる osaeru | to hold back (e.g. an enemy); to check; to curb |
| 静める | しずめる shizumeru | to suppress (a rebellion, riot, fire, etc.); to quell; to put down |
| 治める | おさめる osameru | to subdue; to suppress; to quell |
| 取り鎮める | とりしずめる torishizumeru | to quell; to quiet |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 押す | おす osu | to push; to thrust; to shove |
| 押し | おし oshi | push; pushing |
| 後押し | あとおし atooshi | pushing; support; backing |
| 押し出し | おしだし oshidashi | pushing something out; extrusion |
| 押収 | おうしゅう oushuu | seizure; confiscation |
See also: Chinese symbol for “quell”.
Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.