封堵 (fēng dǔ) — to block, to seal off; (noun) a blockage, a seal

Definition

A verb meaning to seal off or block a physical opening (a gap, pipe, exit) so nothing can pass through. More emphatic and physical than 阻止 (to stop/prevent an action).

verb
to blockto seal off
noun
a blockagea seal

Examples

  • 封堵。
    Tā men yòng shā dài fēng dǔ le hé dī de quē kǒu.
    They used sandbags to seal the gap in the river embankment.
  • 封堵，。
    Jǐng fāng fēng dǔ le suǒ yǒu chū kǒu, fáng zhǐ xián yí rén táo pǎo.
    The police sealed off all exits to prevent the suspect from escaping.
  • 封堵，。
    Zhè ge guǎn dào xū yào fēng dǔ, fǒu zé huì lòu shuǐ.
    This pipe needs to be blocked, otherwise it will leak.

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.

封fēngseal
堵dǔblock

封 closes or seals, 堵 blocks or stops; together they mean to seal off or block.

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
土土tǔearth
寸寸cùnhand
Sound part声符shēngfú
丰
丰fēng封fēng
Same sound today

The shape 封 is 丰 plus 土 (earth) plus 寸 (hand); 丰 was originally drawn as a tree seedling.

Open 封 →

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
土土tǔ
Sound part声符shēngfú
者
者zhě堵dǔ
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

堵 combines 土, showing earth, with 者, which gives the sound.

Open 堵 →

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