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紧逼 (jǐn bī) — to press hard; to close in on (in competition, pursuit, or argument)

Definition

A vivid verb for pressing hard or closing in on someone — used in sports (pressing the opponent), arguments (cornering the other side), or pursuit. Often reduplicated as 步步紧逼 to emphasize relentless, step-by-step pressure.

verb
to press hardto close in on (in competition, pursuit, or argument)

Examples

  • 紧逼，。
    Duì shǒu bù bù jǐn bī, tā bù dé bù jiā kuài jiǎo bù.
    The opponent pressed hard step by step, so he had to speed up.
  • ，紧逼。
    Zài biàn lùn zhōng, tā bèi duì fāng jǐn bī dé shuō bù chū huà lái.
    In the debate, he was pressed so hard by the other side that he couldn't speak.
  • ，紧逼。
    Bǐ sài zuì hòu wǔ fēn zhōng, zhǔ duì yì zhí jǐn bī kè duì.
    In the last five minutes of the game, the home team kept pressing the visiting team.

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.

紧jǐntight
逼bīpress

Pressing tightly or closely gives to press hard or close in.

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 緊; 紧 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
糸糸mì
Sound part声符shēngfú
臤
臤qiān緊jǐn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 緊 pairs 糸 (thread) with 臤 as a sound part; the simplified 紧 is a later shorthand.

Open 紧 →

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
畐
畐fú逼bī
Same sound today

逼 pairs 辶, which carries the meaning, with 畐, which gives the sound.

Open 逼 →
Appears in
Conflict & Agreement

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