屏障 (píng zhàng) — barrier (physical or metaphorical) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

屏障 emphasizes a barrier that shields or protects (a screen-like barrier). 障碍 is the obstacle that blocks progress, 壁垒 the harder figurative wall (trade, ideological), 隔阂 the emotional/cultural distance.

noun

barrier (physical or metaphorical)

Measure word · 道

Examples

屏障。
Zhè zuò shān mài shì bǎo hù chéng shì de tiān rán píng zhàng.
This mountain range is a natural barrier protecting the city.
屏障。
Tā men zhī jiān sì hū yǒu yí dào wú xíng de píng zhàng.
There seems to be an invisible barrier between them.
屏障。
Yán hǎi de fáng hù lín shì dǐ yù tái fēng de píng zhàng.
The coastal shelterbelt is a barrier against typhoons.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

Two parts of equal weight, alike or opposite in meaning, standing side by side.

障zhàngbarrier

屏 and 障 both denote blocking things, giving a physical or metaphorical barrier.

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.

尸并屏

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

并

并bìng屏bǐng

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

屏 pairs 尸 with 并, which supplies the sound.

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

阝章障

Meaning part形符xíngfú

阝Written in full as阜fù

Sound part声符shēngfú

章

章zhāng障zhàng

Same sound today

The left part 阝, written in full as 阜, sits beside 章, which supplies the sound.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 7-9 HSK 2.0 Level 6 Abstract Concepts

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