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压缩 (yā suō) — to compress

Definition

Means 'to compress' — reducing the size or volume of something (files, air, data). Unlike 压 (press down) or 挤压 (squeeze physically), 压缩 emphasizes making something smaller or more compact.

verb
to compress

Examples

  • 压缩。
    Zhè ge chéng xù kě yǐ bǎ wén jiàn yā suō chéng yuán lái de sān fēn zhī yī.
    This program can compress a file to one third of its original size.
  • 压缩。
    Lún tāi lǐ de kōng qì shòu dào yā lì jiù huì yā suō.
    The air in the tire compresses under pressure.
  • ，压缩。
    Zhè zhāng zhào piàn tài dà, xū yào xiān yā suō yí xià cái néng shàng chuán.
    This photo is too big; it needs to be compressed before uploading.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

压yāpress
缩suōshrink

Pressing causes something to shrink, so the word means to compress.

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 →

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 縮; 缩 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mìstring, thread
Sound part声符shēngfú
宿
宿sù縮suō
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 縮 pairs 糸 (string, thread) with 宿, which gives the sound; the simplified 缩 is a shorthand.

Open 缩 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 6HSK 2.0 Level 6Change & Process

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