Dong Chinese dictionary

yā, yà

press, push down

Phonosemantic compound. 土 represents the meaning and 厭 represents the sound.

Components

yàn

dislike, (to push down on)

Original form. This became a phonetic loan for other meanings, so 土 (earth) was added to distinguish the original meaning again.

土 Meaning component

tǔ

earth

Evolution

Seal script

Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical script

Xin dynasty (9-23 AD)

Regular script

Modern

Definitions

yā

press; oppress; crush; pressure; to press; to push down; to keep under (control)

yà

Most common words with 壓

Sources