挤压

• Pinyin: jǐ yā
• Hanzi breakdown: 挤 = 扌+ 齐 (hand + even — to squeeze together); 压 = 厂 + 土 (cliff + earth — to press down)

Meaning

To squeeze; to compress; to crowd out. Can be literal (physical pressure) or figurative (suppression of space, resources, or opportunities).

The figurative use is especially common in economics and policy discussions, where one sector or force 'squeezes out' another. Also used in manufacturing (extrusion).

Examples

1. 这块岩石受到地壳运动的挤压，形成了独特的褶皱结构。 This rock was compressed by tectonic movement, forming a distinctive folded structure.
2. 大型电商平台对传统零售业造成了强烈的市场挤压。 Large e-commerce platforms have put strong competitive pressure on traditional retail.
3. 长时间保持同一姿势会挤压脊椎神经，引发疼痛。 Holding the same posture for a long time can compress spinal nerves and cause pain.

Usage Guide

Context: economics, geology, medicine, manufacturing

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 平台经济的快速扩张对中小实体商户产生了显著的市场挤压效应，部分传统商业街区的客流量在五年间下降了逾三成。(The rapid expansion of platform economies has generated a pronounced market-crowding-out effect on small and medium-sized physical retailers, with foot traffic in some traditional commercial districts declining by over thirty percent in five years.)
• 颈椎间盘突出症的核心病理机制在于突出的髓核组织对相邻神经根的持续挤压，从而引发上肢放射性疼痛与感觉减退。(The core pathological mechanism of cervical disc herniation lies in the continuous compression of adjacent nerve roots by the protruding nucleus pulposus tissue, thereby causing radiating pain and sensory impairment in the upper limbs.)

Don't Say

• 挤压空间 is natural; avoid 挤压时间 — for time constraints use 压缩时间 or 占用时间 instead

Origin & History

挤 (squeeze/crowd) + 压 (press/compress)

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal