碍 meaning and stroke order
To block, to deter, to hinder, to obstruct
How to write 碍, stroke by stroke
13 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 碍
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to hinder
- to obstruct
- to block
How 碍 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Stone.
石 gives the meaning and 㝵 hints at the sound.
Radical: 石 (stone), shared by 114 characters on this site.
How to remember 碍
碍 (ài) has 石 (stone) on the left, the part that gives the meaning. Picture a big stone lying in your path that blocks the way. The right side 㝵 hints at the sound.
碍 is rarely used alone. It usually appears in words like 阻碍 (zǔ'ài), 障碍 (zhàng'ài) and 妨碍 (fáng'ài). Example: 这些箱子很碍事。(Zhèxiē xiāngzi hěn àishì.) These boxes are really in the way.
Common mistake: Learners often mix up 碍 (ài) with 得 (dé) because the right side looks a bit like 㝵. They also confuse it with 爱 (ài), which sounds the same but means love. Also, when writing the right side, check that the top part is 日 and the bottom part is 寸.
Common words with 碍
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 阻碍 | zǔ'ài | to obstruct; to hinder | HSK 5 |
| 障碍 | zhàng'ài | barrier; obstruction | HSK 6 |
| 妨碍 | fáng'ài | to hinder; to obstruct | HSK 7-9 |
| 碍事 | àishì | to be in the way; to be a hindrance; (usu. in the negative) to be of consequence; to matte | HSK 7-9 |
| 大碍 | dà'ài | (usually used in the negative) major issue; serious problem | |
| 障碍物 | zhàng'àiwù | obstacle; hindrance | |
| 碍手碍脚 | àishǒu'àijiǎo | (idiom) to be in the way; to be a hindrance | |
| 碍眼 | àiyǎn | to be an irksome presence (i.e. sth or sb one wishes were not there) |
碍 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 碍
How many strokes are in 碍?
碍 is written with 13 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 碍 mean?
碍 (ài) means to block, to deter, to hinder, to obstruct. A common word with it is 阻碍 (zǔ'ài), meaning "to obstruct; to hinder".
How do you pronounce 碍?
碍 is pronounced ài, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 碍?
The radical of 碍 is 石, which carries the idea of "stone". Dictionaries list 碍 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 碍?
The traditional form of 碍 is 礙. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 碍 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
Is 碍 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 碍 is part of the HSK 5 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What does 没有大碍 mean?
没有大碍 (méiyǒu dà'ài) means there is no serious problem. People often use it after an accident or illness, for example 医生说他没有大碍, meaning the doctor says he is basically fine.
What is the difference between 阻碍 and 妨碍?
Both mean to hinder. 阻碍 (zǔ'ài) suggests blocking progress or development, like 阻碍发展. 妨碍 (fáng'ài) is more about getting in the way of someone's activity, like 妨碍别人休息.