迫
urge, force, imminent, spur on
Readings
On'yomi
- ハク
Kun'yomi
- せま.る
Nanori
- さこ
- せ
- せこ
- はさ
- はさま
- はざま
Meaning
迫 centers on pressure that pushes something forward or makes it urgent: urging, forcing, or an imminent approach. The idea of spurring on fits as a forceful push toward action.
Most common words using 迫
20 of 77- 迫るせまるN2
to approach; to draw near; to be imminent
- 脅迫きょうはくN1
threat; menace; coercion; blackmail
- 迫力はくりょくN1
impressiveness; impact; force; intensity; presence; appeal; strength; punch; edge; vigor
- 圧迫あっぱくN1
pressure
- 迫害はくがいN1
persecution; oppression
- 迫真はくしん
realistic; true to life
- 強迫きょうはく
compulsion; coercion; duress
- 緊迫きんぱくN1
tension; strain
- 切迫せっぱく
pressure; urgency; tension; imminence; acuteness
- 迫りせり
stage elevator; trapdoor
- 気迫きはく
spirit; soul; drive; vigor; vigour
- 逼迫ひっぱく
tightness (of money, financial conditions, etc.); pressure; stringency
- 迫撃はくげき
close attack
- 急迫きゅうはく
urgency; imminence
- 迫撃砲はくげきほう
mortar
- 差し迫るさしせまる
to be imminent; to be impending; to be pressing; to be urgent
- 強迫観念きょうはくかんねん
obsession; compulsive idea
- ド迫力どはくりょく
thrilling; gripping
- 万感胸に迫るばんかんむねにせまる
to be filled with thousand emotions; to be overwhelmed by a flood of emotions; to be wrought by a thousand emotions
- 上腹部圧迫法じょうふくぶあっぱくほう
Heimlich maneuver
Study
Etymology
迫 combines 辶 (movement) with 白, which likely contributes the sound and suggests pressing or approaching. The exact historical role of 白 is uncertain.
Meaning mnemonic
The movement radical 辶 wraps around 白 (white). Imagine a white-hot urgency moving closer and closer, forcing you to act.
Reading mnemonic
For ハク, picture a hack writer under imminent deadline pressure, forced to urge the story forward: hack -> ハク, and the pressure spurs them on.