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拦截 (lán jié) — to intercept, to block (someone/something from progressing); to stop (a vehicle, message, or attack)

Definition

A formal/military word meaning 'to intercept and stop' a moving object — a vehicle, message, missile, or spreading danger (e.g. fire). Stronger than ordinary 'block': it implies actively cutting off something in motion.

verb
to interceptto block (someone/something from progressing)to stop (a vehicle, message, or attack)

Examples

  • 拦截。
    Jǐng chá zài lù kǒu lán jié le yí liàng kě yí de qì chē.
    The police intercepted a suspicious car at the intersection.
  • 拦截。
    Xiāo fáng yuán chéng gōng lán jié le huǒ shì de màn yán.
    The firefighters successfully blocked the spread of the fire.
  • 拦截。
    Dí jūn fā shè de dǎo dàn bèi fáng kōng xì tǒng lán jié le.
    The missile launched by the enemy was intercepted by the air defense system.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

拦lánblock
截jiécut off

拦 (block) and 截 (cut off) combine to mean stop something moving forward.

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.

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 →

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
戈戈gē
Sound part声符shēngfú
雀
雀què截jié
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

截 combines 戈 and 雀, with 雀 supplying the sound.

Open 截 →
Appears in
Military & Defense

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