迫 means “close in, press”

せまる · semaru

Also: urge, force, imminent, spur on

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)
せまる
On'yomi (Chinese reading)
ハク

JLPT N1 · Taught in secondary school · 8 strokes

The story

Movement (辶) bearing down on something white (白): picture a white-capped wave rushing up the beach. 迫る is to close in, as a deadline does, 圧迫 is pressure, and a film with real punch is praised for its 迫力.

Used in 迫る (semaru, to close in/press), 迫力 (hakuryoku, power/impact), and 圧迫 (appaku, pressure)

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Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.