字 Kanji Decipher

Meaning & readings

pressure, push, overwhelm, oppress, dominate

On’yomi アツ、エン、オウ
Kun’yomi お.す、へ.す、おさ.える、お.さえる

Origin

This character combines two components to express the idea of pressure. The top part, which looks like a cliff or roof-like shape, suggests something heavy or imposing from above. Below it sits earth or soil, representing something solid being pressed down. Together, the image of weight bearing down on solid ground captures the meaning of pressure, pushing force, or oppression—when something heavy presses on what is underneath, it overpowers or dominates it.

圧 5 strokes

Components

  • 厂 radical top-left wrap
  • 土 radical position.tarec

Common words

  • 圧巻 あっかん highlight; best part
  • 圧縮 あっしゅく compression
  • 圧勝 あっしょう overwhelming victory; crushing victory
  • 圧倒 あっとう to overwhelm (e.g. an opponent); to overpower
  • 圧迫 あっぱく pressure
  • 圧力 あつりょく pressure
  • 加圧 かあつ pressurization; applying pressure (to)
  • 外圧 がいあつ external pressure; outside pressure

Related kanji

Same radical

Reference

Strokes
5
Kangxi radical
32
Formation type
Compound ideographic (combined meanings)
Grade
Grade 5 (Kyōiku)
Frequency rank
#718 (newspapers)
Former JLPT
level 2
Unicode
U+05727