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阻挠 (zǔ náo) — to obstruct, to thwart

Definition

阻挠 is deliberately thwarting someone's plan, effort, or progress — more willful and hostile than 阻碍 (which is the obstacle itself or to hinder in general). 比 阻拦 stronger, and typically targets an ongoing action, not a future one.

verb
to obstructto thwart

Examples

  • 阻挠。
    Tā men shì tú zǔ náo hé píng jìn chéng.
    They tried to obstruct the peace process.
  • 阻挠。
    Zhè xiàng gǎi gé zāo dào le shǎo shù rén de zǔ náo.
    This reform was obstructed by a minority of people.
  • 阻挠。
    Rèn hé kùn nan dōu bù néng zǔ náo wǒ men qián jìn.
    No difficulty can thwart our progress.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

阻zǔobstruct
挠náohinder

阻 means obstruct and 挠 also suggests hindering, so the combined sense is thwarting.

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
阝Written in full as阜fù
Sound part声符shēngfú
且
且qiě阻zǔ
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

阻 is built from 阝 (written in full as 阜) on the left and 且 on the right, which gives the sound.

Open 阻 →

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 撓; 挠 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
扌Written in full as手shǒuhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
堯
堯yáo撓náo
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 撓 pairs 扌 (hand) with 堯 to give the sound; the simplified 挠 is a later shorthand.

Open 挠 →
Appears in
HSK 3.0 Level 7-9HSK 2.0 Level 6Conflict & Agreement

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