堵住 (dǔ zhù) — to block up, to clog, to stop up (physically obstructing with a barrier or buildup)

Definition

堵住 means a passage or opening is physically blocked or clogged shut, stopping flow. A separable verb (离合词): insert 了/过/得/不 between 堵 and 住 (e.g. 堵住了, 堵不住).

verb
to block upto clogto stop up (physically obstructing with a barrier or buildup)
Easily confused

Examples

  • 堵住。
    Qǐng bǎ lòu shuǐ de dì fāng dǔ zhù.
    Please block up the place that's leaking.
  • 堵住，。
    Xià shuǐ dào dǔ zhù le, shuǐ dōu liú bù chū qù.
    The drain is blocked, and water can't flow out.
  • 堵住。
    Shī gōng duì yòng shā dài dǔ zhù le nà tiáo lù.
    The construction team blocked that road with sandbags.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

堵dǔblock
住zhùsecure, stopped

堵 blocks, and 住 shows the action reaches a stopped, secure result.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
土土tǔ
Sound part声符shēngfú
者
者zhě堵dǔ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

堵 combines 土, showing earth, with 者, which gives the sound.

Open 堵 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
亻Written in full as人rén
Sound part声符shēngfú
主
主zhǔ住zhù
Same sound today

住 pairs 亻, the person radical (written fully as 人), with 主, which supplies the sound.

Open 住 →

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