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阻隔 (zǔ gé) — to separate, to cut off; to isolate, to block (communication or passage)

Definition

A formal/literary verb meaning to block or cut off so that communication or passage cannot pass. Often used for physical barriers (walls, mountains) or abstract separation (distance, relationships).

verb
to separateto cut offto isolateto block (communication or passage)

Examples

  • 阻隔。
    Zhè zuò shān mài zǔ gé le dōng xī jiāo tōng.
    This mountain range separates east-west transportation.
  • 阻隔。
    Jù lí bìng méi yǒu zǔ gé wǒ men de yǒu qíng.
    Distance hasn't cut off our friendship.
  • 阻隔。
    Hòu hòu de gāo qiáng zǔ gé le tā men yǔ wài jiè de lián xì.
    The thick high walls isolated them from contact with the outside world.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
联合liánhéCoordinate

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

阻zǔblock
隔géseparate

阻 (block) and 隔 (separate) combine to mean cut off or isolate.

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
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 →

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fùwall
Sound part声符shēngfú
鬲
鬲gé隔gé
Same sound today

隔 puts 阝, a wall, with 鬲, which gives the sound gé, to show separating with a wall.

Open 隔 →
Appears in
Abstract Concepts

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