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施加 (shī jiā) — to exert, to apply (pressure, influence, force, etc.)

Definition

施加 is a formal written verb meaning to apply or exert (pressure, influence, force) on something or someone. It needs an object — usually 压力, 影响, or 惩罚 — unlike 用力 ('exert oneself'), which stands alone for physical effort.

verb
to exertto apply (pressure, influence, force, etc.)

Examples

  • 施加。
    Fù mǔ bú yīng gāi duì hái zi shī jiā guò duō de yā lì.
    Parents should not exert too much pressure on their children.
  • 施加。
    Zhè ge zhèng cè duì dāng dì jīng jì shī jiā le jī jí yǐng xiǎng.
    This policy has exerted a positive influence on the local economy.
  • 施加。
    Jǐng fāng duì xián yí rén shī jiā le xīn lǐ zhàn shù.
    The police applied psychological tactics to the suspect.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

施shīapply
加jiāadd

施 and 加 both carry the sense of putting or adding force, so it means to exert.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
㫃㫃㫃
Sound part声符shēngfú
也
也yě施shī
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

施 pairs 㫃, the part connected to its meaning, with 也, the part giving its sound.

Open 施 →

Two or more meaningful parts placed together so that their meanings combine into a new one.

加 pairs 力 and 口. In one explanation 力 is strength and 口 is the mouth, meaning exaggeration; in another 力 is plowing effort and 口 is breath or exclamation, meaning extra effort.

Open 加 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Abstract Concepts

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