梗阻 (gěng zǔ) — to block, to obstruct, to hamper

Definition

A formal/literary verb for 'to block or obstruct', used for physical passages (intestines, roads) and abstract progress (projects, funds). Stronger than 阻碍 and typically appears in the 被 construction or with 了.

verb
to blockto obstructto hamper

Examples

  • 梗阻。
    Dào lù bèi ní shí liú gěng zǔ le.
    The road was blocked by a mudslide.
  • 梗阻。
    Zī jīn bù zú gěng zǔ le xiàng mù de jìn zhǎn.
    Insufficient funds hampered the project's progress.
  • 梗阻。
    Zhǒng liú gěng zǔ le cháng dào.
    The tumor obstructed the intestine.

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.

梗gěngblock
阻zǔobstruct

梗 and 阻 both mean block or obstruct, giving 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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
木木mù
Sound part声符shēngfú
更
更gèng梗gěng(r)
Same sound today

梗 has 木 on the left and 更 on the right. The 木 side shows it was a type of plant, while 更 gives the sound.

Open 梗 →

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 →

Browse more HSK 7-9 words or search the full 43,000-word dictionary.