障碍 (zhàng ài) — obstacle; barrier; hindrance; to obstruct; to h… | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

障碍 names the obstacle itself (a thing or situation) and is also used as a verb 'to hinder'. More concrete than the abstract verb 阻碍, and unlike 故障 it is not used for machine breakdowns.

obstaclebarrierhindranceto obstructto hinder

Measure word · 个

Examples

障碍。
Yǔ yán zhàng ài shì jiāo liú de yí dà wèn tí.
Language barriers are a big problem in communication.
障碍。
Qīng chú dào lù zhàng ài xū yào shí jiān.
Clearing road obstacles takes time.
障碍。
Tā de xíng wéi zhàng ài le gōng sī de fā zhǎn.
His behavior hindered the company's development.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

联合liánhéCoordinate

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

障zhàngbarrier/obstruct

碍àihinder/obstruct

障 and 碍 both carry the idea of blocking or hindering, so the word means an obstacle.

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.

阝章障

Meaning part形符xíngfú

阝Written in full as阜fù

Sound part声符shēngfú

章

章zhāng障zhàng

Same sound today

The left part 阝, written in full as 阜, sits beside 章, which supplies the sound.

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 礙; 碍 is its simplified writing.

石疑礙

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

疑

疑yí礙ài

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 礙 combines 石 (stone) with 疑 as a sound part.

Appears in

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