pressure
pressure — 名詞
1. the pushing or squeezing of one surface against another when two objects are in
按壓
物體接觸時相互擠壓的力量
the pushing or squeezing of one surface against another when two objects are in direct contact, measured by how much force is applied over a given area.
The nurse applied gentle pressure to the wound to stop the bleeding.
護士在傷口上輕輕按壓，以止住流血。
collocation: apply pressure / gentle pressure
The old bridge could not handle the extra pressure from the heavy trucks.
那座舊橋無法承受重型卡車帶來的額外壓力。
collocation: handle the pressure / pressure from something
Adisa felt the pressure of the bookcase against his back as he squeezed past.
Adisa 擠過去時，感覺到書櫃壓在背上。
The dentist asked the patient whether the pressure on the tooth was painful.
牙醫問病人，牙齒上的按壓感會不會痛。
- compression
more technical; often used in engineering and physics contexts
- force
broader in meaning; does not always imply contact between surfaces
用法筆記
This sense is about actual physical contact between surfaces. Do not confuse with sense 2 (AIR/GAS FORCE), which describes pressure exerted by fluids or gases rather than solid objects.
2. the push created by a gas or liquid against whatever holds it, including the dow
氣壓；壓力
氣體或液體在空間中施於週遭的力量
the push created by a gas or liquid against whatever holds it, including the downward push of the air around us pressing on the earth's surface.
The car's tire pressure dropped sharply after the long drive in cold weather.
在寒冷的天氣裡開長途車後，車子的胎壓急遽下降。
collocation: tire pressure drops
The weather report said a high-pressure system was moving toward the coast.
氣象報告指出一個高氣壓系統正往海岸移動。
collocation: high-pressure system (weather)
The scuba diver checked her air pressure before going into the deep water.
那位潛水員進入深水前檢查了自己的氣壓。
The engineer made sure the pressure inside the boiler stayed below the safety limit.
工程師確保鍋爐內的壓力保持在安全標準以下。
- force
more general; pressure specifies how force is spread over a surface
- atmospheric pressure
restricted to the weight of the air around the Earth
用法筆記
Common in science, engineering, and weather contexts. For air pressure specifically, you can say 'atmospheric pressure'. For liquids, 'water pressure' is widely used in everyday talk about plumbing.
3. the effort to get someone to behave in a particular way by arguing, repeatedly a
施壓
用言行要求他人照自己意思做
the effort to get someone to behave in a particular way by arguing, repeatedly asking, or threatening them.
The manager put pressure on the sales team to meet the monthly target.
經理對業務團隊施壓，要求他們達成當月業績目標。
collocation: put pressure on someone to do something
Jiwoo felt pressure from her parents to choose a more stable career path.
Jiwoo 感受到來自父母的壓力，要她選擇更穩定的職業。
collocation: feel pressure from someone to do something
The protesters used public pressure to force the company to change its pollution policy.
抗議者利用公眾壓力，迫使公司改變其污染政策。
Under pressure from angry investors, the CEO agreed to resign from her position.
在憤怒的投資人施壓下，執行長同意辭去職務。
- coercion
stronger and more formal; implies threats rather than gentle persuasion
- persuasion
softer; does not carry the idea of force or threat
- arm-twisting
informal; suggests a forceful but not necessarily hostile approach
文法句型
put pressure on someone to do something
under pressure from someone to do something
用法筆記
Unlike sense 4 (STRESS), this sense focuses on the external source doing the persuading or forcing, not on the internal feeling of the person being pressured.
常見錯誤
4. a feeling of worry or strain caused by having too many demands, responsibilities
負擔
因責任過多而感到的緊張憂慮
a feeling of worry or strain caused by having too many demands, responsibilities, or expectations to deal with.
The pressure of her final exams kept Tanvi awake at night.
期末考的負擔讓 Tanvi 晚上睡不著覺。
collocation: the pressure of something + emotional/mental effect
Some people work better under pressure than in a calm environment.
有些人在壓力下工作反而比在輕鬆環境中表現得更好。
collocation: work under pressure
The financial pressure on young families has grown a lot in recent years.
年輕家庭的經濟負擔在近年來加重了許多。
Cyrus could not handle the pressure of balancing work and family life.
Cyrus 無法承受同時兼顧工作和家庭的壓力。
文法句型
under pressure
the pressure of something
用法筆記
This sense describes the internal emotional state. Compare with sense 3 (PERSUADING), which describes external attempts to influence someone. The two often overlap: external pressure (sense 3) leads to internal stress (sense 4).
常見錯誤
5. a spoken comment or hint that makes someone feel a strong expectation to perform
暗示
暗示對方非全力以赴不可的說詞
a spoken comment or hint that makes someone feel a strong expectation to perform well, often said after someone has publicly praised or counted on them.
"No pressure, but the whole class is counting on you to win," said the teacher.
老師說：「不是要給你壓力啦，但全班都指望你贏。」
informal spoken expression: 'No pressure, but…'
My grandmother smiled and said no pressure, but I knew she expected me to do well.
祖母笑著說沒有要給我壓力，但我知道她期待我有好表現。
When the coach told Andrés there was no pressure but the team needed a goal, his heart raced.
教練對 Andrés 說不是要給他壓力，但球隊需要進球，他的心臟怦怦跳。
Tariro's brother grinned and said no pressure, which made her even more nervous.
Tariro 的哥哥咧嘴笑著說沒壓力啦，結果她更緊張了。
- responsibility
more formal and general; does not capture the ironic tone of 'no pressure'
用法筆記
Almost always used in the fixed spoken phrase 'No pressure, but…' which ironically adds pressure. The phrase is informal and common in conversations among friends, family, or teammates.
6. a situation in football (soccer) in which the attacking team keeps pushing forwa
壓迫
足球中進攻方持續逼近球門的攻勢
a situation in football (soccer) in which the attacking team keeps pushing forward and the defending team must work hard to prevent a goal from being scored.
The home team's defence came under heavy pressure in the last ten minutes.
主隊的防守在最後十分鐘遭受猛烈壓迫。
sports collocation: come under pressure
The crowd cheered as the attackers kept the pressure on the goal for the whole second half.
整場下半場進攻方持續對球門施加壓迫，觀眾歡聲雷動。
sports collocation: keep the pressure on
Gabriel scored while his team was under pressure, and the stadium erupted with joy.
Gabriel 在球隊遭受壓迫的時候進球了，整個球場沸騰起來。
The visiting team spent the first half building pressure from the midfield area.
客隊在上半場就從中場開始持續施加壓迫。
用法筆記
Specific to football commentary and discussion. Do not use this sense in general conversation. The phrase 'under pressure' in sports is often followed by a description of how the defending team responds.
pressure — 動詞
1. to keep pushing someone towards an action they are unwilling to take, by arguing
強迫
持續要求某人做不願意做的事
to keep pushing someone towards an action they are unwilling to take, by arguing, asking over and over, or threatening them.
Her parents pressured her to apply for jobs that paid better money.
她的父母強迫她應徵薪水更高的工作。
collocation: pressure + object + to-infinitive
The salesperson pressured Minh into buying an expensive phone he did not need.
業務員強迫 Minh 買了一支他不需要的昂貴手機。
collocation: pressure + object + into + gerund
Kasia felt pressured by her classmates to join the after-school debate club.
Kasia 感受到同學的壓力，被迫加入課後的辯論社。
The charity pressured the government to invest more in public healthcare services.
該慈善機構向政府施壓，要求增加公共醫療服務的投資。
- encourage
positive, supportive approach rather than forceful persuasion
文法句型
pressure someone to do something
pressure someone into doing something
用法筆記
Common in both active and passive forms. The passive 'feel pressured' is very frequent in everyday English. The 'into + gerund' pattern emphasises that the person was unwilling at first.