Japanese word

圧倒

Pronunciation

Romajiattō

Meaning

  • nounoverwhelm

Example

強いチームが相手を圧倒します。tsuyo i chī mu ga ai te o at tō shi ma su

A strong team overwhelms its opponent.

Illustration for 圧倒 (overwhelm)

More examples

観客の大きな声援が相手チームを圧倒しました。kan kyaku no ō ki na sei en ga ai te chī mu o at tō shi ma shi ta

The crowd's loud cheers overwhelmed the opposing team.

Core concept

Expresses one side's overwhelming advantage as it pushes another side into a position where resistance is nearly impossible.

Common phrases

  • 相手を圧倒するai te o at tō su ru

    overwhelm an opponent

  • 相手に圧倒されるai te ni at tō sa re ru

    be overwhelmed by an opponent

Similar words

圧勝asshō: A decisive victory achieved by a large margin.
優勢yūsei: A favorable position in which one side has greater strength or control.

Definition in Japanese

力や勢いが相手を大きく上回り、相手を抵抗できなくさせること。chikara ya ikio i ga ai te o ō ki ku uwa mawa ri ai te o tei kō de ki na ku sa se ru ko to

Word origin

圧倒 (attō) is a Sino-Japanese compound of 圧 (atsu, "pressure") and 倒 (tō, "knock down"), linking strong pressure with bringing something down.

Usage tips

  • A commentator can use 圧倒 (attō) for a dominant performance in which one player or team leaves the other with little chance to act.

Other meanings

  • overpowernoun
  • crushnoun

Related words

Word lists with this word