抑

Phono-semantic compound consisted of:

手 (“hand”) — semantic element, conveys physical action such as pushing or pressing.

卬 (“to raise, I”) — phonetic element, supplies the sound yì / eok and contributes the contrasting nuance of “up vs. down.”

Thus, the character depicts using the hand to press something that is rising, giving rise to the meaning “to press down, to restrain.”

抑制 (억제) — to suppress, restrain, control

抑壓 (억압) — to oppress, repress

抑鬱 (억울) — depression, melancholy (lit. “repressed emotion”)

抑止 (억지) — to stop, to restrain, to check

抑揚 (억양) — modulation, intonation, rise and fall of tone

抑何 (억하) — classical: “indeed what…?”, “after all what…” (as in 抑何心情)

In Confucian thought, 抑 symbolizes self-control and moderation —

the ethical act of holding one’s emotions in check (克己, 抑情).

Thus, phrases like 抑欲 (“to restrain desire”) are frequent in moral literature.

In classical Chinese, 抑 functions as an introductory or contrastive particle, similar to “indeed,” “after all,” or “rather.”

It often appears at the beginning of sentences to introduce reflection or correction:

抑 (rather / or perhaps) …

This use survives in Japanese (そもそも), where 抑 is still read yoku or そもそも, meaning “in the first place, to begin with.”

Also in Japanese & Korean usage means intonation, restraint, moderation, or prevention:

《孟子》: 「抑亦能改乎？」

“But indeed, can he change?”

《抑何心情》: “도대체 무슨 심정인가?” — rhetorical particle used for emphasis or questioning tone.