The word 压迫 is formed by combining two characters, each contributing a vivid layer of meaning to create a single powerful concept. The first character, 压 (yā), pictorially represents the idea of "to press down" or "to crush", evoking a physical weight. The second, 迫 (pò), carries the sense of "to compel" or "to approach urgently", suggesting force and inescapable pressure. When fused, they form a word-picture that is greater than the sum of its parts: the imagery of a crushing weight (压) applied to force compliance or to create a state of subjugation (迫), perfectly encapsulating the meaning of "oppression".