TongTong
Sign in

压抑 (yā yì) — to repress, to constrain (emotions or desires); (stative) to be oppressive; to feel stifled or depressed

Definition

压抑 focuses on internal feelings — repressing emotions (and the resulting stifling atmosphere). 抑制 is broader, covering any urge or action; 压迫 is external/social pressure.

verb
to repressto constrain (emotions or desires)(stative) to be oppressiveto feel stifled or depressed

Examples

  • 压抑。
    Tā bú yīng gāi bǎ qíng xù yā yì zài xīn lǐ.
    He shouldn't repress his emotions inside.
  • 压抑。
    Zhè ge fáng jiān de qì fen tài yā yì le.
    The atmosphere in this room is too oppressive.
  • 压抑。
    Cháng qī yā yì de shēng huó ràng tā hěn tòng kǔ.
    Living in long-term oppression made him very miserable.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

压yāpress/restrain
抑yìrepress/hold down

压 and 抑 both mean restrain or press down, together describing repressing emotions or a stifling feeling.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 壓; 压 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
土土tǔdust
Sound part声符shēngfú
厭
厭yàn壓yā
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 壓 is built from 土, dust, and 厭, which gives the sound; 压 is the simplified form of 壓.

Open 压 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

抑 shows a hand pressing down on a kneeling person, giving the sense of press or restrain.

Open 抑 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Mental Health

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.