施压
shī yā · HSK 7
to pressure
🤜 施 = apply/exert + 压 = pressure; literally to apply pressure
压 (yā) is the same character as in 压力 (pressure) and 血压 (blood pressure). 施 means to apply or carry out, as in 施工 (carry out construction). Together: to apply pressure on someone.
压 — 厂 (cliff) + 土 (earth) below
压 is the simplified form of 壓. The original character combined 厭 (phonetic, suggesting 'yā') with 土 (earth) to mean pressing or weighing down on the ground. The modern simplified form keeps 厂 (a cliff or overhang) above 土, visually evoking earth being pressed under a heavy mass.