Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Pressing, urgent: Describes a situation, task, or need that demands immediate attention and action, not allowing for delay.
   • Coercive, oppressive: Describes an atmosphere or feeling of being pressured, constrained, or forced, often causing discomfort or distress.

2. Verb:

   • To force, to coerce, to pressure: To compel someone to do something against their will, often through implicit or explicit pressure.

Usage Examples

• Adjective (Pressing):
  • Tình hình lương thực trở nên bức bách. (The food situation became urgent.)
  • Đây là một nhiệm vụ bức bách. (This is a pressing task.)
• Adjective (Coercive):
  • Bầu không khí trong phòng thật bức bách. (The atmosphere in the room was oppressive.)
• Verb:
  • Họ bị bức bách phải ký hợp đồng. (They were forced to sign the contract.)
  • Cảm giác tội lỗi bức bách anh ta phải thú nhận. (Guilt pressured him into confessing.)

Advanced Usage

• The word often conveys a strong sense of psychological or situational pressure that is difficult to resist or ignore.
• When used as an adjective describing a task ("công việc bức bách"), it is functionally similar to "khẩn cấp" (urgent) but can carry a stronger connotation of being burdened or under duress to complete it.

Variants and Related Words

• Bức (v): To press, to squeeze. Often used in a more physical or direct sense than "bức bách".
  • Bức tranh (a painting – from the idea of a pressed/printed image).
• Thúc bách (v): To urge, to press. Similar to "bức bách" but can imply a slightly less forceful or more motivational pushing.
• Ép buộc (v): To compel, to oblige. A more direct synonym for the verb form.

Synonyms

• Urgent, pressing, imperative (for the adjective meaning related to tasks).
• Oppressive, stifling, constraining (for the adjective meaning related to atmosphere).
• To force, to coerce, to compel, to pressure (for the verb).

Related Idioms

• Bức bối (adj): Feeling pent-up, frustrated, and restless due to confinement or pressure. This focuses more on the resulting internal emotional state.
  • Anh ấy cảm thấy bức bối trong căn phòng chật hẹp. (He felt pent-up in the cramped room.)

1. To force, to coerce (nói khái quát)
   • bị bức bách phải làm
     to be coerced into working
2. khẩu ngữ) Pressing, urgent
   • công việc bức bách, một phút cũng không chậm trễ được
     a pressing job permitting not even one minute's delay