阻 meaning and stroke order
To hinder, to impede; to obstruct, to oppose
How to write 阻, stroke by stroke
7 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 阻
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to hinder
- to block
- to obstruct
How 阻 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Place.
阝 gives the meaning and 且 hints at the sound.
Radical: 阝 (place), shared by 160 characters on this site.
How to remember 阻
阻 is built from 阝, which here points to a place such as a hill or mound, and 且 (qiě), which gives the sound. Picture a hill 阝 standing in your path: the terrain itself blocks your way.
阻 rarely stands alone in modern Chinese. It usually appears in two-character words like 阻止 (zǔzhǐ), 阻碍 (zǔ'ài) and 劝阻 (quànzǔ). Example: 他想阻止我去。(Tā xiǎng zǔzhǐ wǒ qù.) He wants to stop me from going.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 阻 with 组 (zǔ, group), which has the same sound but uses the silk radical 纟 on the left. 阻 is about blocking, 组 is about organizing or grouping.
Common words with 阻
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 阻止 | zǔzhǐ | to prevent; to block | HSK 4 |
| 阻碍 | zǔ'ài | to obstruct; to hinder | HSK 5 |
| 阻挡 | zǔdǎng | to stop; to resist | HSK 7-9 |
| 阻挠 | zǔnáo | to thwart; to obstruct (sth) | HSK 7-9 |
| 阻拦 | zǔlán | to stop; to obstruct | HSK 7-9 |
| 阻力 | zǔlì | resistance; drag | HSK 7-9 |
| 劝阻 | quànzǔ | to advise against; to dissuade | HSK 7-9 |
| 阻塞 | zǔsè | to block; to clog | |
| 阻断 | zǔduàn | to block; to obstruct | |
| 阻隔 | zǔgé | to separate; to cut off | |
| 受阻 | shòuzǔ | to be obstructed; to be hindered |
阻 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 阻
How many strokes are in 阻?
阻 is written with 7 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 阻 mean?
阻 (zǔ) means to hinder, to impede; to obstruct, to oppose. A common word with it is 阻止 (zǔzhǐ), meaning "to prevent; to block".
How do you pronounce 阻?
阻 is pronounced zǔ, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 阻?
The radical of 阻 is 阝, which carries the idea of "place". Dictionaries list 阻 under this radical.
Is 阻 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 阻 is part of the HSK 4 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
What is the difference between 阻止 and 阻碍?
阻止 (zǔzhǐ) means actively stopping a person or action, often on purpose. 阻碍 (zǔ'ài) means getting in the way or slowing something down, like an obstacle to progress.
Does the 阝 on the left of 阻 mean the same as the 阝 on the right of a character?
No. When 阝 is on the left, as in 阻, it relates to hills or places. When it is on the right, as in 都 (dū), it comes from a form related to towns or cities.