圧倒

• Reading: あっとう
• Romaji: attou
• Kanji breakdown: 圧 (atsu) — pressure, push; 倒 (tō/tao) — topple, fall
• Pronunciation: /at.toː/

Meaning

Overwhelm; overpower; crush; dominate completely.

Used both as a noun and as a する verb (圧倒する). Describes overwhelming superiority in competition, ability, or force. The adjectival form 圧倒的 (attouteki) meaning 'overwhelming' is extremely common in everyday Japanese.

Examples

1. 相手チームを圧倒して優勝した。 We overwhelmed the opposing team and won the championship.
2. 彼女の演技力は他の俳優を圧倒していた。 Her acting ability overwhelmed all the other actors.
3. 圧倒的な実力の差を見せつけられた。 We were shown just how overwhelming the gap in ability was.

Usage Guide

Context: sports, competition, performance

Tone: emphatic

Origin & History

From Chinese, combining 圧 (pressure, push down) + 倒 (topple, fall over). The imagery is of pressing something down until it collapses.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal