压迫 (yā pò) — to oppress, to repress (politically or socially); to compress, to constrict (physically)

Definition

压迫 stresses ongoing, systemic pressure on people (political/social oppression, or a body part being constricted). Unlike 压抑, which targets inner emotions, 压迫 is applied from the outside — by a regime, a force, or a physical agent.

verb
to oppressto repress (politically or socially)to compressto constrict (physically)

Examples

  • 压迫，。
    Dú cái zhèng quán cháng qī yā pò rén mín, zuì zhōng bèi tuī fān le.
    The dictatorial regime oppressed the people for a long time and was eventually overthrown.
  • 压迫，。
    Zuò zī bú dàng huì yā pò zuò gǔ shén jīng, yǐn qǐ tuǐ bù má mù.
    Improper sitting posture can compress the sciatic nerve, causing leg numbness.
  • 压迫著。
    Lì shǐ shàng zhí mín zhě cán kù yā pò dāng dì tǔ zhù.
    Historically, colonizers brutally oppressed the indigenous people.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

压yāpress
迫pòforce

压 (press) and 迫 (force) combine to mean compel or oppress.

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.

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 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Government & Politics

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