Meaning of 压力
Definitions from CC-CEDICT.
- pressure
How to use 压力
压力 is used for physical pressure and, very often, for mental stress from work, school, or family. It commonly pairs with 大 (dà) and verbs like 有 (yǒu) or 减轻 (jiǎnqīng, to reduce). Example: 最近工作压力很大。(Zuìjìn gōngzuò yālì hěn dà.) Work pressure has been really high lately.
压 (yā) means to press down, and 力 (lì) means force or strength. Put them together and you get the force that presses down on you: pressure.
Common mistake: Learners often write 压 without the dot inside, which turns it into 厂 plus 土. The dot sits at the lower right of 土 and is easy to forget. Also keep the first tone on 压 (yā). Do not use the fourth tone.
压力 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Stroke order for each character
Open a character for its meaning, components and more words.
压 yā · to press · 6 strokes
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
力 lì · power · 2 strokes
- 1
- 2
Related words
Words that share a character with 压力.
| 努力 | nǔlì | to make an effort; to try hard; to strive; hard-working; conscientious |
| 力量 | lìliàng | power; force; strength |
| 能力 | nénglì | capability; ability |
| 动力 | dònglì | motive power; (fig.) motivation; impetus |
| 实力 | shílì | strength |
| 听力 | tīnglì | hearing; listening ability |
| 巧克力 | qiǎokèlì | (loanword) chocolate |
| 尽力 | jìnlì | to strive one's hardest; to spare no effort |
| 力气 | lìqi | physical strength |
| 精力 | jīnglì | energy (physical or mental) |
| 智力 | zhìlì | intelligence; intellect |
| 有力 | yǒulì | powerful; forceful |
Questions about 压力
What does 压力 mean?
压力 (yālì) means "pressure" and is used as a noun.
How do you write 压力?
压力 is made of 2 characters: 压 (6 strokes), 力 (2 strokes). That is 8 strokes in total.
Is 压力 an HSK word?
Yes. 压力 is on the HSK 3 vocabulary list of the HSK 3.0 standard.
How is 压力 written in traditional Chinese?
In traditional characters, 压力 is written 壓力.
How do I say I am stressed in Chinese using 压力?
Say 我压力很大 (wǒ yālì hěn dà), literally "my pressure is big." You can also say 我有压力 (wǒ yǒu yālì), I am under pressure.
Does 压力 only describe negative stress?
Mostly it does, but people also say 把压力变成动力 (bǎ yālì biànchéng dònglì), turn pressure into motivation. In science and engineering it is a neutral term for physical pressure, such as air or water pressure.