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施压 (shī yā) — to pressure; to exert pressure on

Definition

施压 means 'to exert pressure' on a person or organization, often to force a decision. Pairs with 施加 for abstract force (influence, pressure); 压 alone is a more physical 'press down'.

verb
to pressureto exert pressure on

Examples

  • 施压。
    Tā men bú duàn xiàng zhèng fǔ shī yā.
    They keep pressuring the government.
  • 施压，。
    Bú yào shī yā tā, ràng tā zì jǐ jué dìng.
    Don't pressure him; let him decide on his own.
  • 施压，。
    Zài měi fāng de lián xù shī yā xià, gāi gōng sī zuì zhōng qū fú le.
    Under continuous pressure from the US side, the company finally gave in.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
动宾dòngbīnVerb + object

An action followed by what it acts on, fused into one word.

施shīexert
压yāpressure

施 means exert and 压 means pressure, so it means exerting pressure.

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 →

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9Conflict & Agreement

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