压力
yālì
The English word "stress" is translated into Chinese as 压力 (yālì).
压力 refers to emotional or psychological pressure, but it can also be used to describe physical pressure. To describe the act of relieving stress, you can use the phrase 缓解压力. If you want to talk about the source of your stress, you can use 压力来源. To say that someone is under a great deal of stress, use the pattern 压力很大, which literally means "stress is very big".
Meaning: emotional pressure (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word consists of the character 压, which means to press or to weigh down.
How does it change in a sentence?
压力 is a noun used to describe both psychological emotional pressure and physical pressure.
How do you pronounce it?
yālì
Did you know?
- While 压力 describes the feeling of stress, the word 压力山大 is a popular internet slang term meaning 'stressed to the max'. It is a pun on 'Alexander the Great' (亚历山大), which sounds nearly identical to 'stress is as big as a mountain'.
- In Chinese medicine, the physical manifestation of 压力 is often described as 气 'qì' becoming 'stagnant'. Stress is not just a feeling but a literal blockage of energy flow in the body.
- In Chinese culture, the concept of 压力 is often linked to 内卷 'involution'. This term describes a 'race to the bottom' where people work harder and harder for the same or fewer rewards, creating systemic stress.
Examples in context
- 你怎么释放压力？How do you relieve stress?This sentence is useful for asking how someone relieves their 压力.Tatoeba #9955800 by Akh2403, translation #9955799 by Akh2403
- 我总是觉得压力很大。I'm always under stress.This sentence is useful for stating that you are under 压力.Tatoeba #2050750 by fercheung, translation #66121 by CM
- 他们说压力导致高血压。They say stress causes high blood pressure.This sentence is useful for describing the medical effects of 压力.Tatoeba #9409437 by BobbyLee, translation #7137104 by CK
- 面对考试，她感到非常焦虑She feels extremely stressed facing the exam.
- 最近工作太多了，压力山大啊There's too much work lately, the stress is overwhelming!
- 这个周末工作好多，好紧啊！There's so much work this weekend, I'm so stressed!
- 最近家里的事情太多了，我有点儿压力There's so much going on at home lately, I'm feeling a bit stressed.
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Two colleagues are talking in the office break room.
- 志强 Zhiqiang晓雯，你看起来状态不太好。Xiǎowén, nǐ kàn qǐlái zhuàngtài bù tài hǎo.Xiaowen, you don't look very well.
- 晓雯 Xiaowen是啊，最近工作压力真的很大。Shì a, zuìjìn gōngzuò yālì zhēnde hěn dà.Yeah, the work pressure has been really high lately.
- 志强 Zhiqiang要不要一起去喝杯咖啡？Yào bù yào yìqǐ qù hē bēi kāfēi?Do you want to go grab a coffee together?
- 晓雯 Xiaowen好啊，谢谢你的关心。Hǎo a, xièxiè nǐ de guānxīn.Sure, thanks for your concern.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
