榨

搾
zhà
木 + 窄
HSK 3.0Level 7

Definitions

zhà variant of 榨[zhà]; to press; to extract (juice)
zhà to press; to extract (juice); device for extracting juice, oils etc

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 木 represents the meaning and 窄 represents the sound. Simplified form of 搾.

Semantic: 木 Phonetic: 窄

About

The character 榨 is a phono-semantic compound, with the left radical 木 (wood) indicating its original association with wooden objects and the right component 窄 (narrow) providing the phonetic element. This structure reflects its initial meaning: a wooden press or apparatus used to extract liquids, such as oil or juice. From this concrete noun, the character evolved into a verb describing the physical act of pressing or squeezing to extract liquid. This sense later extended metaphorically to mean the harsh exploitation or extortion of resources, labor, or wealth from others.

Example Sentences Hide

我要榨一杯橙汁。

Wǒ yào zhà yī bēi chéngzhī.

I want to squeeze a glass of orange juice.

妈妈用榨汁机做豆浆。

Māma yòng zhàzhījī zuò dòujiāng.

Mom uses a juicer to make soy milk.

榨花生油需要专门的机器。

Zhà huāshēng yóu xūyào zhuānmén de jīqì.

Extracting peanut oil requires a special machine.

这家工厂主要榨取甘蔗制糖。

Zhè jiā gōngchǎng zhǔyào zhàqǔ gānzhè zhì táng.

This factory mainly extracts sugar from sugarcane.

资本家残酷地压榨工人的血汗。

Zīběnjiā cánkù de yāzhà gōngrén de xuèhàn.

The capitalists cruelly exploited the workers' sweat and blood.

古代榨油的方法比较原始费时。

Gǔdài zhà yóu de fāngfǎ bǐjiào yuánshǐ fèishí.

The ancient method of extracting oil was relatively primitive and time-consuming.

这种高利贷是在榨取穷人的最后一分钱。

Zhè zhǒng gāolìdài shì zài zhàqǔ qióngrén de zuìhòu yī fēn qián.

This type of usury is squeezing the last penny from the poor.

现代榨油技术极大地提高了出油率和品质。

Xiàndài zhà yóu jìshù jídà de tígāole chū yóu lǜ hé pǐnzhì.

Modern oil extraction technology has greatly increased the oil yield and quality.

Related Characters

Component: 木

样 机 相 果 权 格 术 根 极 林 集 查 李 标

Component: 窄

醡 搾

Example Words

榨菜 压榨 榨干 榨取 榨汁机 榨油 现榨