Meaning
压抑 describes the state of feeling emotionally suppressed, stifled, or weighed down. It can refer to actively suppressing one's feelings or emotions, or to the feeling of being in an oppressive, suffocating environment or mental state. The word carries a sense of psychological heaviness and lack of freedom to express oneself.
Usage
Commonly used to describe oppressive atmospheres, psychological states of depression or constraint, and the act of holding back emotions. Often appears in contexts discussing mental health, stressful environments, or emotional suppression. Can describe both temporary feelings and longer-term emotional states.
Examples
- 01这种压抑的工作环境让我觉得很不舒服。.This oppressive work environment makes me feel very uncomfortable.
- 02他总是压抑自己的感情，从来不表达出来。, .He always suppresses his feelings and never expresses them.
Characters
Common collocations
- 感到压抑to feel depressed/oppressed
- 压抑情绪to suppress emotions
- 压抑的气氛oppressive atmosphere
- 心情压抑depressed mood
Antonyms
Origin
Both characters relate to suppression: 压 originally depicted pressing down from above, while 抑 combines the hand radical with a phonetic component, indicating the action of holding back or restraining with one's hands.