押(お)しボタン

おしぼたん
noun
push button
technologydaily-life
1. push button; pushbutton
A button that is pressed to activate a device, signal, or mechanism. Found on elevators, crosswalks, appliances, and various machines.
押(お)しボタンを押(お)してください。
Please press the push button.
I pressed the push-button traffic signal at the crosswalk.
I had trouble because the elevator button wasn't responding.

A compound of 押(お)す (to push) + ボタン (button, from Portuguese 'botão'). Refers specifically to buttons designed to be pressed, as opposed to toggle switches or other controls.

Common collocations

  • 押(お)しボタンを押(お)す: to press a push button
  • 押(お)しボタン式(しき): push-button type/style
  • 押(お)しボタン式(しき)信号(しんごう): push-button traffic signal (at a pedestrian crossing)
  • 非常(ひじょう)押(お)しボタン: emergency push button

Usage

Commonly encountered at pedestrian crosswalks (押(お)しボタン式(しき)信号(しんごう)), on elevators, and on industrial equipment. The word emphasizes the physical pressing action, distinguishing it from touch-sensitive or other types of controls.

Related words