oppressive
oppressive は英検準1級レベルの英単語で、「抑圧的な、圧迫的な、重苦しい」という意味があります。発音記号は /əˈprɛsɪv/ です。
抑圧的な
解説 Definition
抑圧的とは自由や権利を奪い、人々の行動や思考を押さえ込むような状態や態度を指します。たとえば、言論や反対意見を受け入れず、命令どおりに従わせようとする政治体制や職場の雰囲気が該当します。そうした振る舞いは人々に不安や息苦しさを与え、心身の健康を損なうおそれがあります。
Oppressive describes something that is harsh, unfair, and controlling, making people feel limited or powerless. It is often used for governments, rules, social systems, or even an atmosphere that feels heavy and difficult.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
oppressive は press「押す」から、人の自由や権利を上から押さえつけるイメージで覚えます。oppressive government, oppressive rules, oppressive working conditions のように、政治体制・法律・規則・職場環境が人を支配し、行動や発言を制限する場面でよく使います。暑さや雰囲気が息苦しい場合にも使えますが、この「抑圧的な」では不公平で逃げ場のない重圧に焦点があります。
Notice the root press and the related word pressure. Oppressive describes something that pushes down on people’s freedom, rights, or choices. It is common in phrases like oppressive government, oppressive rules, and oppressive working conditions. The word often suggests unfair power and little room to escape.
例文
The oppressive regime silenced any form of dissent.
抑圧的な政権は、あらゆる反対意見を封じ込めた。
Workers struggled under the oppressive conditions in the factory.
労働者たちは工場の抑圧的な環境の中で苦しんでいた。
The oppressive heat of summer made it difficult to work outdoors.
夏の息苦しいほどの暑さは、屋外での作業を困難にした。
圧迫的な
(意味 2)解説 Definition
人々を抑え込む、または精神的に重く息苦しくさせる。政治的な抑圧や不当な圧力、天候が重く不快に感じられる状態を表す。
例文
The oppressive heat made it hard to breathe.
圧迫的な暑さは呼吸を難しくした。
The oppressive atmosphere in the room was unbearable.
その部屋の圧迫的な雰囲気は耐え難かった。
The government's oppressive policies caused resentment.
政府の圧迫的な政策は怨恨を引き起こした。
重苦しい
(意味 3)解説 Definition
oppressive は、暑さや湿気、空気感、沈黙などが人にのしかかるように重く感じられるときに使う形容詞です。単に「暑い」「暗い」ではなく、息苦しさや圧迫感まで伴うのが特徴で、天気にも部屋の雰囲気にも使えます。
Oppressive describes something that feels heavy, hard to escape, and uncomfortable. It is often used for heat, humidity, silence, or an atmosphere that seems to press down on you and make it hard to relax or breathe easily. It can also describe rules, systems, or people that control others in a harsh way. The word suggests more than simple discomfort, because it includes a strong feeling of pressure.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
press が「押す」、pressure が「圧力」だと分かると、oppressive は「人や空気に重い圧をかけ、自由を押さえつける感じ」でつかみやすいです。oppress（抑圧する）→ oppression（抑圧）→ oppressive（抑圧的な）と語形をまとめて覚えると定着します。an oppressive government, oppressive rules, oppressive atmosphere のように、政治・制度・職場や場の雰囲気が人を息苦しく縛る場面でよく使います。strict よりも「支配的で逃げ場がない」重さが強い語です。
Think of press and pressure in the word oppressive. Something oppressive feels as if it is pressing down on people, the air, or the mood around them. It is useful to learn the word family together: oppress, oppression, and oppressive. Compared with strict, oppressive has a stronger feeling of control and no easy escape.
例文
The air in the room was hot and oppressive, and no one wanted to stay long.
部屋の空気は暑くて重苦しく、誰も長くいたがらなかった。
An oppressive silence filled the car after their argument.
口論のあと、車内には重苦しい沈黙が広がった。
Many people spoke out against the oppressive rules at work.
多くの人が職場の息苦しい規則に反対の声を上げた。
oppressive の語源・成り立ち Etymology
「oppressive」は、ラテン語 opprimere「上から押しつぶす」にさかのぼり、ob-「上から・向かって」+ premere「押す」の形です。compress や depress も同じ premere の仲間で、「重く押しつけられて息苦しい」が抑圧的という意味にそのままつながります。
Oppressive comes from Latin opprimere, meaning "to press down on" or "crush," from ob- and premere, "to press." Related words such as compress and depress come from the same Latin root. The sense developed from physical pressure to the feeling of heavy social, political, or emotional burden.
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