障 meaning and stroke order
To separate; shield, barricade
How to write 障, 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 障
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- to block
- to hinder
- to obstruct
How 障 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Wall.
阝 gives the meaning and 章 hints at the sound.
Radical: 阝 (place), shared by 160 characters on this site.
How to remember 障
The left side 阝 is a wall or mound, and 章 (zhāng) gives the sound. Picture a wall built in front of a chapter 章 of your path, blocking the way: 障 (zhàng) means to block or obstruct.
障 (zhàng) rarely stands alone and usually appears in words like 障碍 (zhàng'ài, obstacle), 故障 (gùzhàng, malfunction) and 保障 (bǎozhàng, to guarantee). Example: 电脑出故障了。(Diànnǎo chū gùzhàng le.) The computer broke down.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 障 (zhàng) with 章 (zhāng, chapter) or 樟 (zhāng, camphor). They also read it in the first tone like its phonetic part. Remember that 障 has the wall radical 阝 on the left and takes the fourth tone.
Common words with 障
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 障碍 | zhàng'ài | barrier; obstruction | HSK 6 |
| 故障 | gùzhàng | malfunction; breakdown | HSK 6 |
| 保障 | bǎozhàng | to ensure; to guarantee | HSK 7-9 |
| 路障 | lùzhàng | roadblock; barricade | |
| 智障 | zhìzhàng | learning difficulties (handicap); retarded | |
| 屏障 | píngzhàng | barrier | |
| 残障 | cánzhàng | handicapped | |
| 障碍物 | zhàng'àiwù | obstacle; hindrance | |
| 障眼法 | zhàngyǎnfǎ | diversionary tactic; smokescreen | |
| 越障 | yuèzhàng | to surmount obstacles; assault course for training troops |
障 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Questions about 障
How many strokes are in 障?
障 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 障 mean?
障 (zhàng) means to separate; shield, barricade. A common word with it is 障碍 (zhàng'ài), meaning "barrier; obstruction".
How do you pronounce 障?
障 is pronounced zhàng, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 障?
The radical of 障 is 阝, which carries the idea of "place". Dictionaries list 障 under this radical.
Is 障 on the HSK exam?
Yes. 障 is part of the HSK 6 character list in the HSK 3.0 standard.
Why does 保障 mean to guarantee if 障 means to block?
In 保障 (bǎozhàng) the idea is a protective barrier that keeps something safe. Shielding something from harm turned into the meaning of ensuring or guaranteeing it, as in 保障权利 (bǎozhàng quánlì, to safeguard rights).
Is 智障 (zhìzhàng) a polite word to use?
智障 is a formal term for intellectual disability, but online it is also used as an insult meaning idiot. In polite contexts many people prefer phrases like 智力障碍 (zhìlì zhàng'ài) or 残障人士 (cánzhàng rénshì).