遮拦 (zhē lán) — to block; to impede; to obstruct

Definition

verb
to blockto impedeto obstruct

Examples

  • 遮拦。
    Tā yòng shuāng shǒu zhē lán zhù duì fāng de gōng jī.
    He used both hands to block the opponent's attack.
  • 遮拦。
    Nóng mì de shù yè zhē lán le yáng guāng.
    The thick leaves blocked the sunlight.
  • 遮拦。
    Méi yǒu rèn hé kùn nan néng zhē lán wǒ men qián jìn de jiǎo bù.
    No difficulty can impede our forward steps.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéSide by side

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

遮zhēblock
拦lánobstruct

遮 and 拦 both mean to stop or obstruct, together emphasizing blocking or impeding.

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
辶Written in full as辵chuòroad
Sound part声符shēngfú
庶
庶shù遮zhē
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

遮 has 辶, a road-like part, and 庶 (shù, 'numerous'), which gives it its sound.

Open 遮 →

Most 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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
扌Written in full as手shǒuhands
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.

Open 拦 →

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