偪 (bī) - To compel & to force

偪Tone 1

bī ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

傲不

偪 · bī

To compel;

to force;

to press;

to oppress.

Also used in ancient texts to mean 'narrow', 'tight', or as a variant of 逼.

To compelto forceto press

Usage highlights

To force someoneNarrow and crampedForced to leaveTo press for paymentTo compel surrenderUnder pressure

Synonyms

  • 逼— to force, to compel (more common modern form)
  • 迫— to compel, to force
  • 压— to pressure, to suppress

Antonyms

  • 请— to request, to invite (polite opposite of forcing)
  • 劝— to persuade, to advise
  • 宽— wide, spacious (antonym of narrow meaning)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He was forced to resign (被偪辞职).
  • The deadline is pressing (期限很偪).
  • The space is too narrow (空间太偪仄).
  • Ancient texts use 偪 for 'narrow' (古文中用偪表示狭窄).

Collocations

  • To force someone(偪人)
  • Narrow and cramped(偪仄)
  • Forced to leave(偪走)
  • To press for payment(偪债)
  • To compel surrender(偪降)
  • Under pressure(受偪)

Idioms

  • Forced to the point of no return(偪上梁山)
  • Hard pressed on all sides(内外交偪)
  • Forced into a desperate situation(偪入绝境)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • 偪 is an ancient character that appears in classical texts, often interchangeable with 逼.
  • In modern usage, 逼 is more common for 'force/compel' meanings, while 偪 appears in specific contexts or classical references.
  • The character carries connotations of coercion and oppression in both historical and contemporary understanding.

FAQ