押

A phono-semantic compound:

手 — hand, action by hand (semantic component)

甲 — 갑, phonetic component

The earliest and primary meaning of 押 is “to affix a sign or mark by hand”, especially a signature, seal, or personal mark (手決).

In premodern East Asia, signing a document was literally done by pressing:

- a seal,

- a fingernail mark,

- a written personal sign.

From this physical act of pressing by hand, the meanings expanded.

압인 (押印) — affixing a seal

압송 (押送) — escorting under guard

압류 (押留 / 押收) — seizure; attachment

압수 (押收) — confiscation

압도하다 (押倒) — to overpower (semantic overlap)

In premodern East Asia, signing = accountability. A seal or mark was legally binding, often more than handwriting.

Thus 押 embodies the transition:

hand → mark → responsibility → authority → coercion

Relationship with 壓:

押 and 壓 share the same Korean reading (압) and partially overlap in meaning.

押

- legal, administrative, contractual

- signing, detaining, pawning

壓

- physical pressure

- weight, compression, oppression

However classical dictionaries often state 押通壓, meaning they may substitute for each other. The boundary is functional, not absolute.

Related characters:

壓 — to press, compress

印 — seal, stamp

署 — to sign officially

拘 — to detain

留 — to hold, keep

質 — pledge, collateral