榨 zhà to press for juice
怎么记住“榨”: 木 tree + 窄 narrow = to press for juice. The farmer loads apples from his tree into a narrow wooden barrel and turns the handle, ready to press for juice.
部件结构
形声 · Meaning + sound
One part gives the meaning, the other gives the sound.
榨 = 木 tree + 窄 narrow
- 木 tree meaning
- 窄 narrow meaning + sound
The farmer loads apples from his tree into a narrow wooden barrel and turns the handle, ready to press for juice.
How it came to be
Wood gives the meaning, and the sign for narrow gives the sound and also the idea of pressing tight.
用法
- To press out juice/oil: 榨汁 (zhàzhī) to juice, 榨油 (zhàyóu) to press oil.
- 压榨 (yāzhà) is figurative exploitation: 压榨工人 (yāzhà gōngrén) to squeeze/exploit workers.