抑
KanjiJLPT N1
Repress
repress, well, now, in the first place, push, shove, press, seal, do in spite of
Mnemonic
Your hand slams down hard on an open book, trying to repress the forbidden words rising off the pages. Every time the glowing text tries to float free, your hand presses the open book flat again — nothing escapes your relentless grip.
Additional thoughts
Picture luminous words physically lifting off the page like steam, and your palm slamming them back down. The open book wants to share its secrets, but your hand won't allow it. The physical pressure of pressing pages flat mirrors the meaning of repress perfectly.Quick recall
A hand forces an open book shut to repress its forbidden words from escaping.Details
The keyword for 抑 is repress. This kanji conveys the idea of holding something back, suppressing, or keeping something down by force or restraint. It can refer to controlling emotions, curbing impulses, or restraining actions that might otherwise surge forward. The character carries a sense of deliberate containment, pressing down on something to prevent it from rising or expressing itself freely.
- On'yomi
- よく
- Kun'yomi
- おさ.える