About
The character "压", meaning to press or suppress, originates from its traditional form "壓", which structurally combines the cliff radical "厂" with the phonetic and semantic component "厭", the latter itself meaning to be satiated or to loathe, implying a sense of being weighed down or overwhelmed. This construction conceptually depicts the action of a cliff or heavy object bearing down from above, thus establishing its core semantic field related to applying physical weight or force. Over centuries, its application expanded from denoting literal physical pressure to encompass abstract forces, such as suppressing a revolt, bearing down with authority, or the psychological weight of stress. The simplified form "压", which emerged from cursive script traditions, replaces the complex right-hand component with "土" (earth), a logical substitution that maintains the conceptual image of earth or weight pressing downward while significantly streamlining the character's form.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
这本书压在桌子上。
他用手压住了那张纸。
工作压力让我很累。
压缩文件可以节省空间。
他压抑着自己的情绪。
压岁钱是春节的传统。
这场表演的压轴节目很精彩。
巨大的困难压不倒我们。