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March 24, 2026
迫(廹)pò(po4)
The character 迫 (pò) primarily means to compel or force someone to do something. It can also convey a sense of urgency or pressing need. Commonly used in contexts involving pressure, either socially or physically, this word can imply both negative connotations, such as persecution, and neutral contexts, such as prompting action.
Strokes8Radical辶Frequency#14931DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese history, the concept of persecution has deep roots, particularly during periods of political upheaval. The word 迫 evokes strong feelings associated with historical events where individuals or groups faced oppression.
Memory Tip
Imagine a person being ‘pushed’ (迫) into a corner, feeling pressured to act. The character has the radical for ‘to press’ on top, symbolizing urgency, while the bottom part looks like a figure being forced forward, reinforcing the idea of compulsion.
Meanings of 迫
pò(po4)
1to persecute
2to oppress
Exercise 1 of 2
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About 迫
迫Simplified
廹Traditional
8Strokes
辶Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#14931Frequency Rank
Podcast: 迫
Podcast: 迫
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AI Study Notes for 迫
Quick Contrast
迫 (pò) vs 强迫 (qiángpò): use 迫 for a more general sense of urgency or compulsion, while 强迫 specifically implies coercion or forceful imposition.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a person being ‘pushed’ (迫) into a corner, feeling pressured to act. The character has the radical for ‘to press’ on top, symbolizing urgency, while the bottom part looks like a figure being forced forward, reinforcing the idea of compulsion.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 迫 (pò) with similar-sounding words. It is often used in formal contexts, especially when discussing issues of power dynamics. Common collocations include 迫使 (pòshǐ, to compel) and 迫切 (pòqiè, urgent).
HSK Study Tips
While 迫 is not part of the HSK curriculum, it connects with other verbs that convey force or urgency. Focus on how it can be used to express both physical and emotional pressure, helping you build a broader vocabulary around similar themes.
Cultural Note
In Chinese history, the concept of persecution has deep roots, particularly during periods of political upheaval. The word 迫 evokes strong feelings associated with historical events where individuals or groups faced oppression.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 迫 (pò) with 迫切 (pòqiè), which means urgent. For example, saying '我感觉迫' (Wǒ gǎnjué pò) instead of '我感觉迫切' (Wǒ gǎnjué pòqiè) would be incorrect when trying to express urgency.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 迫
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Grammar Patterns of 迫
迫 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 4 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
hěn duō rén jué dé zì jǐ zài gōng zuò shàng bèi pò dà cái xiǎo yòng。
Many find themselves having to take jobs far beneath them.
10
损失数百人之后，他们的士兵被迫灰溜溜地撤退。
sǔn shī shù bǎi rén zhī hòu， ， tā mén de shì bīng bèi pò huī liū liū dì chè。
Their soldiers had to retreat ignominiously after losing hundreds of lives.
Cultural Notes for 迫
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese history, the concept of persecution has deep roots, particularly during periods of political upheaval. The word 迫 evokes strong feelings associated with historical events where individuals or groups faced oppression.
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western contexts, the notion of 'forcing' someone often emphasizes personal choice and autonomy, whereas in Chinese culture, it may reflect deeper societal pressures and expectations.
Word Family of 迫
Words Containing This Character20
强迫qiǎngpòto compel強迫
被迫bèipòto be compelled
迫不及待pòbùjídàiimpatient (idiom); in a hurry
压迫yāpòto oppress壓迫
迫切pòqièurgent
迫使pòshǐto force
迫pòto force
紧迫jǐnpòpressing緊迫
迫害pòhàito persecute
逼迫bīpòto force
胁迫to coerce脅迫
迫击炮mortar (weapon)迫擊炮
强迫症obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)強迫症
窘迫jiǒngpòvery poor
迫在眉睫pressing in on one's eyelashes (idiom); imminent
迫不得已forced into sth
迫降to force a plane to land
急迫jípòurgent
迫近to approach
从容不迫cóngróngbúpòcalm從容不迫
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 强迫 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 迫
The character 迫 has a variant form with the same pronunciation, which can also be used in similar contexts. It's important to note that while they share meanings, the context can dictate which variant is more appropriate to use in conversation.
The character 迫 (pò) has several meanings including to persecute, oppress, and to express a sense of urgency or pressure. It can also indicate a state of embarrassment. Understanding these meanings helps to grasp its usage in various contexts.
You can use 迫 (pò) in sentences to describe situations where someone is being oppressed or forced into a position. For example, '他感到很迫' (Tā gǎndào hěn pò) means 'He feels very pressured.' This illustrates the feeling of being in a pressing situation.
迫 (pò) means to persecute or oppress. It can also refer to feeling embarrassed or being in a pressing situation. The character is a variant of the same character with the same pronunciation, emphasizing its usage in different contexts.
You can say '他迫我去参加会议' (Tā pò wǒ qù cānjiā huìyì), meaning 'He forced me to attend the meeting.'
While it often has negative connotations like persecution, it can also describe urgent situations that require immediate action.
Synonyms include 强迫 (qiángpò, to coerce) and 迫使 (pòshǐ, to compel), both of which also imply a sense of force.
