碍 (ài) — to hinder, to obstruct, to be in the way of
Definition
碍 (ài) is a formal verb meaning 'to hinder / obstruct' — usually appears in fixed phrases like 碍事 (be in the way) and 妨碍 (hinder, impede), not alone in casual speech.
verb
to hinderto obstructto be in the way of
Easily confused
- 得delook-alike(particle) used between a verb and a complement to indicate possibility or degree
- 爱àisound-aliketo love
- 艾àisound-alike(bound form) to punish (in compounds such as 惩艾 or 自怨自艾)
- 唉àisound-alike(interjection) expresses sigh, regret, disappointment, or resignation
- 隘àisound-alike(bound form) narrow
Examples
- ，碍。Bǎ nà ge dèng zi bān zǒu, tā ài zhe lù le.Move that stool away; it's blocking the path.
- ，。Tā shuō huà cóng bù kǎo lǜ bié rén, zǒng jué de zì jǐ zuò shén me dōu bú ài shì.He never considers others when he speaks, always thinking nothing he does is a problem.
- 碍，。Zhè xiē jiù jiā jù fàng zài zhè lǐ hěn ài dì fāng, bù rú rēng diào.These old furniture pieces take up too much space here; we might as well throw them away.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost 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.
The traditional form 礙 combines 石 (stone) with 疑 as a sound part.
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