抑止 (yì zhǐ) — to restrain, to check, to suppress

Definition

Formal written verb meaning 'to restrain / check / suppress', typically of forces like anger, inflation, or spread. Pairs with 住 to form the resultative 抑止住.

verb
to restrainto checkto suppress
Easily confused

Examples

  • 抑止。
    Tā nǔ lì yì zhǐ zhù zì jǐ de fèn nù.
    He tried hard to restrain his anger.
  • 抑止。
    Zhèng fǔ cǎi qǔ le yí xì liè cuò shī lái yì zhǐ tōng huò péng zhàng.
    The government adopted a series of measures to check inflation.
  • 抑止。
    Zhè zhǒng yào wù kě yǐ yǒu xiào yì zhǐ bìng dú de kuò sàn.
    This medicine can effectively suppress the spread of the virus.

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.

抑yìrestrain
止zhǐstop

The characters for restrain and stop combine to mean hold back or check.

Characters in this word

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

抑 shows a hand pressing down on a kneeling person, giving the sense of press or restrain.

Open 抑 →

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

止 was drawn as a footprint pointing up, with three toes and a sole, originally showing a foot.

Open 止 →

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