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高压 (gāo yā) — high pressure (in weather, physics, machinery); high-handed, oppressive (methods, policies); high voltage

Definition

高压 covers both literal 'high pressure/voltage' (physics, weather, electrical systems) and the figurative 'high-handed, oppressive' sense for policies or methods.

high pressure (in weather, physics, machinery)high-handedoppressive (methods, policies)high voltage

Examples

  • 高压。
    Yòng gāo yā guō zuò fàn kě yǐ jié shěng shí jiān.
    Using a pressure cooker to cook food can save time.
  • 高压，。
    Nà ge guó jiā shí xíng gāo yā zhèng cè, rén mín hěn bù mǎn.
    That country implements oppressive policies, and the people are very dissatisfied.
  • 。
    Wéi xiū gāo yā diàn xiàn bì xū zhù yì ān quán.
    You must be careful when repairing high-voltage wires.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

高gāohigh
压yāpressure

高 gives high and 压 gives pressure or voltage, together describing elevated pressure, voltage, or harsh methods.

Characters in this word

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

高 was drawn as a tall building.

Open 高 →

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 7-9Physics & Chemistry

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