阻碍 (zǔ ài) — to obstruct, to hinder, to block; obstruction,… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

阻碍 emphasizes actively impeding progress, often something ongoing like 资金阻碍了项目 ('funds hindered the project'). 障碍 is the noun 'obstacle'; 阻止 is to stop something before it happens.

to obstructto hinderto blockobstructionhindrance

Examples

阻碍。
Dà xuě zǔ ài le jiāo tōng.
Heavy snow obstructed traffic.
阻碍。
Tā men zài gōng zuò zhōng yù dào le hěn duō zǔ ài.
They encountered many obstacles at work.
阻碍。
Quē shǎo zī jīn zǔ ài le xiàng mù de jìn xíng.
Lack of funds hindered the project's 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.

碍àihinder

阻 and 碍 both mean to block or hinder, so together they express obstruction.

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.

阝且阻

Meaning part形符xíngfú

阝Written in full as阜fù

Sound part声符shēngfú

且

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.

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 礙; 碍 is its simplified writing.

石疑礙

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

疑

疑yí礙ài

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 礙 combines 石 (stone) with 疑 as a sound part.

Appears in

HSK 3.0 Level 6 HSK 2.0 Level 6 Abstract Concepts

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