damage, harm; to impede, to obstruct; to undermine
zg, 7 strokes, radical 女, rank #41544, Very Hard
fáng(fang2) T2
1to hinder
2(in the negative or interrogative) (no) harm
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March 24, 2026
妨fáng(fang2)
The character 妨 (fáng) means to hinder or obstruct something, often implying that an action or situation causes harm or damage. It is frequently used in both negative and interrogative contexts to question whether there is any harm in a specific action, emphasizing the nuance of potential negative consequences.
Strokes7Radical女Frequency#41544DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, the concept of hindrance is closely tied to the idea of harmony and balance. Actions that cause 妨 can disrupt relationships and social harmony, which is highly valued in traditional Chinese society.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'fang' (like a tooth) that is blocking the flow of water in a river, creating an obstruction. The tooth (fang) represents harm and blockage, helping you remember that 妨 (fáng) relates to hindering or causing damage.
Meanings of 妨
fáng(fang2)
1to hinder
2(in the negative or interrogative) (no) harm
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 妨
妨Simplified
7Strokes
女Radical
状态词stative word (stat.)Part of Speech
#41544Frequency Rank
Podcast: 妨
Podcast: 妨
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AI Study Notes for 妨
Quick Contrast
妨 (fáng) vs 阻 (zǔ) — use 妨 when implying potential harm or damage, while 阻 focuses more on the act of stopping or preventing.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 妨 with similar-sounding words like 防 (fáng), which means to defend or protect. 妨 is generally used in more formal contexts, so be cautious about its use in casual conversation. Common collocations include 妨碍 (fáng'ài) meaning 'to obstruct' and 妨害 (fánghài) meaning 'to harm.'
HSK Study Tips
Although 妨 is not part of the HSK curriculum, it connects to higher-level vocabulary about obstacles and consequences. Focus on its usage in phrases and its role in expressing harm or obstruction to gain a deeper understanding.
Common Mistakes
Learners might confuse 妨 with 防 (fáng), leading to incorrect meanings related to protection instead of hindrance. For example, saying 妨止 (fángzhǐ) instead of 防止 (fángzhǐ) which means 'to prevent.' Always remember 妨 relates to hindrance.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 妨
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Phonosemantic compound. 女 represents the meaning and 方 represents the sound.
1The meaning half女 carries the sense.
2The sound half方 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaywoman
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 妨? Jason searches the paleographic record, weighs the competing accounts and judges the popular story.
Charged once for this character — everyone reads it afterwards.
Exercise 1 of 1
Character Formation Type
What type of character formation is 妨?
Decomposition of 妨
IDS Structure⿰女方
妨Full Character
=
女nü3
left
方Fang1
right
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 妨?
How to say to hinder in Chinese
“to hinder” in Chinese is妨fáng
The character 妨 (fáng) means to hinder or obstruct something, often implying that an action or situation causes harm or damage. It is frequently used in both negative and interrogative contexts to question whether there is any harm in a specific action, emphasizing the nuance of potential negative consequences.
When to use 妨
Learners often confuse 妨 with similar-sounding words like 防 (fáng), which means to defend or protect. 妨 is generally used in more formal contexts, so be cautious about its use in casual conversation. Common collocations include 妨碍 (fáng'ài) meaning 'to obstruct' and 妨害 (fánghài) meaning 'to harm.'
妨 or something close to it
妨 (fáng) vs 阻 (zǔ) — use 妨 when implying potential harm or damage, while 阻 focuses more on the act of stopping or preventing.
What learners get wrong
Learners might confuse 妨 with 防 (fáng), leading to incorrect meanings related to protection instead of hindrance. For example, saying 妨止 (fángzhǐ) instead of 防止 (fángzhǐ) which means 'to prevent.' Always remember 妨 relates to hindrance.
Write 妨
妨
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Practice writing 妨 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 妨
妨 carries 4 distinct meanings. Below you'll find the patterns that show how it combines with other words, plus example sentences pulled directly from native usage.
