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迫于 (pò yú) — to be forced by (circumstances); having no alternative but to ... due to ...

Definition

A formal/written preposition-like verb meaning 'forced by (circumstances)' — the subject has no real choice, unlike plain "because of" (由于) which only states a reason.

verb
to be forced by (circumstances)having no alternative but to ... due to ...

Examples

  • 迫于，。
    pò yú Yú lùn de yā lì, tā zhǐ hǎo cí zhí le.
    Forced by the pressure of public opinion, he had no choice but to resign.
  • 迫于，。
    pò yú Xíng shì, gōng sī bù dé bù cái yuán.
    Forced by the situation, the company had to lay off staff.
  • 迫于，。
    pò yú Fù mǔ de qī wàng, tā xuǎn zé le xué yī.
    Due to her parents' expectations, she chose to study medicine.

Origin

Derived word
构词法gòucífǎ
后缀hòuzhuìSuffix

A fixed syllable at the end that turns the word into a noun, a person, a place or the like.

迫pòforce/compel
于yúfrom/by

迫 means to force or compel, and 于 gives the sense of pressure coming from circumstances, so the whole means forced by circumstances.

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
辶Written in full as辵chuò
Sound part声符shēngfú
白
白bái迫pò
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The form 迫 pairs the walking radical 辶 (written in full as 辵) with 白, which gives the sound.

Open 迫 →

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

  • 一一yīflat stream of air
  • 丂丂kǎoto exhale

The old shape of 于 may have pictured an ancient wind instrument. Another explanation reads 一 as a flat stream of air and 丂 as an exhaling mark.

Open 于 →
Appears in
Cause, Effect & Logic

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