拦 (lán) — to block, to obstruct, to flag down (a vehicle)
Definition
拦 (lán) focuses on actively intercepting someone or something moving — flagging down a taxi, stopping a person from leaving. 挡 (dǎng) is more about getting in the way or shielding; 阻拦 adds a 'prevent' nuance.
verb
to blockto obstructto flag down (a vehicle)
Examples
- 。Jǐng chá zài lù kǒu lán zhù le nà liàng chē.The police stopped that car at the intersection.
- 拦，。Bié lán wǒ, wǒ yí dìng yào qù.Don't stop me, I must go.
- 拦。Tā zài lù biān lán le yí liàng chū zū chē.He flagged down a taxi on the roadside.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
This origin belongs to the traditional form 攔; 拦 is its simplified writing.
Sound part声符shēngfú
闌
闌lán攔lán
Same sound today
In the traditional form 攔, 扌 (hands) is paired with 闌, which gives the sound. The simplified 拦 is a shorthand, and its right side is not the original sound part.
Appears in
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