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Kotomora

圧

pressure, push, overwhelm, oppress, dominate

JLPTN2StatusJōyō · grade 5FrequencyTop 1,000Strokes5

Readings

On'yomi

  • アツ
  • エン
  • オウ

Kun'yomi

  • お.す
  • へ.す
  • おさ.える
  • お.さえる

Meaning

圧 centers on applying force from above or outside: pressing down, pushing, overwhelming, or dominating. The idea of pressure connects the physical and social senses.

Most common words using 圧

21 of 391
  • 圧倒的あっとうてき

    overwhelming

  • 圧力あつりょく
    N1

    pressure

  • 圧縮あっしゅく
    N2

    compression

  • 気圧きあつ
    N2

    atmospheric pressure; air pressure

  • 電圧でんあつ
    N1

    voltage

  • 血圧けつあつ
    N2

    blood pressure

  • 圧倒あっとう
    N1

    to overwhelm (e.g. an opponent); to overpower; to crush; to defeat completely

  • 圧迫あっぱく
    N1

    pressure

  • 弾圧だんあつ
    N1

    oppression; suppression; pressure

  • 制圧せいあつ

    gaining total control (of people or counties); suppression; oppression; control; mastery; ascendancy; supremacy

  • 高圧こうあつ

    high voltage; high pressure

  • 抑圧よくあつ
    N1

    check; restraint; oppression; suppression

  • 圧勝あっしょう
    N1

    overwhelming victory; crushing victory; sweeping victory; landslide victory

  • 圧巻あっかん
    N1

    highlight; best part

  • 鎮圧ちんあつ

    suppression (of a riot, revolt, etc.); repression; putting down; quelling

  • 高血圧こうけつあつ
    N2

    high blood pressure; hypertension

  • 高気圧こうきあつ
    N2

    high (atmospheric) pressure; high-pressure system; high-pressure zone; anticyclone

  • 重圧じゅうあつ

    strong pressure; heavy pressure

  • 外圧がいあつ

    external pressure; outside pressure; foreign pressure

  • 低気圧ていきあつ
    N1

    low (atmospheric) pressure; low-pressure system; depression; cyclone

  • 加圧かあつ

    pressurization; applying pressure (to)

Explore all words using 圧 →

Study

Etymology

圧 is the modern simplified form of 壓. The older form combines 厂 (cliff) with a complex lower part that included 土 (earth) and other elements, suggesting earth pressing down from a cliff. The modern form retains the cliff and earth components in a simplified arrangement.

Meaning mnemonic

Under a cliff 厂, the earth 土 is being pressed down. Picture a massive cliff applying pressure to the ground below.

Reading mnemonic

For アツ, imagine the pressure is so intense it feels like being trapped under a heavy atlas book: atlas -> アツ, pressing down on you.