压

• Pinyin: yā
• Hanzi breakdown: 压 = 厂 (cliff/overhang) + 土 (earth), simplified from 壓, meaning to press down

Meaning

To press; to push down; to suppress. To apply force or weight on something from above.

A versatile verb used physically (压住 press down on, 压扁 flatten) and figuratively (压力 pressure, 压抑 suppress emotions). Also appears in compounds: 气压 (air pressure), 血压 (blood pressure), 压岁钱 (New Year lucky money, literally 'money to suppress age'). In colloquial use, 压 can mean to hold back or keep something down.

Examples

1. 请不要把书压在花上面。 Please don't press the books on top of the flowers.
2. 他用石头把纸压住了。 He held the paper down with a stone.
3. 雪太重了，把树枝都压弯了。 The snow was too heavy and bent the tree branches down.

Usage Guide

Context: everyday, physical actions

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 风太大了，用东西把报纸压住。(The wind is too strong; use something to hold down the newspaper.)
• 别压我的帽子。(Don't squash my hat.)

Don't Say

• 我压了门铃。(For pressing a button or doorbell, use 按 — say 我按了门铃. 压 implies sustained downward force, not a quick press.)

Origin & History

压 is the simplified form of 壓. It combines 厂 (cliff) and 土 (earth) suggesting weight pressing down from above. The original form included 犬 (dog) as a phonetic component.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal