Meanings of 礙
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About 礙
Podcast: 礙
Podcast: 礙
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AI study notes for 礙
阻 (zǔ) — use 礙 (ài) when referring to hindrances that are more about emotional or metaphorical barriers, while 阻 (zǔ) is typically used for physical obstruction.
Learners often confuse 礙 with similar characters like 障 (zhàng), which also means obstacle but is used in different contexts. This character is more formal, so it is advisable to use it in written language or formal speech. Common collocations include 礙事 (ài shì, to be a hindrance) and 礙难 (ài nán, to be difficult).
While 礙 is not included in the official HSK levels, it complements vocabulary related to difficulty and obstacles found in HSK 5 and 6. Students should focus on recognizing it in context and understanding its use in idiomatic expressions.
Learners might confuse 礙 with the more commonly used 障 (zhàng). For example, saying '他是我的障碍' (He is my obstacle) instead of the more appropriate '他是我的礙事' (He is a hindrance to me). Always choose the contextually correct term.
Pronunciation of 礙
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Learning Lab
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Its meaning, its character, its pinyin, its tone — hearing it, saying it, writing it. The Learning Lab measures each one from your own practice, on every word you study, so you see what you actually know rather than how much you have done.
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Etymology of 礙
Phonosemantic compound. 石 represents the meaning and 㝵 represents the sound. Simplified form of 礙.
stone
Origin
礙 = 石 + 疑. What kind of character does that make it?
Decomposition of 礙
Parts
Which of these is part of 礙?
How to say to block, to deter, to hinder, to obstruct in Chinese
“to block, to deter, to hinder, to obstruct” in Chinese is礙
The character 礙 (ài) means to block, deter, hinder, or obstruct something. It is often used in contexts where an obstacle prevents progress or movement, whether physical, metaphorical, or emotional. This word is commonly found in expressions related to difficulties or barriers faced in various situations.
When to use 礙
Learners often confuse 礙 with similar characters like 障 (zhàng), which also means obstacle but is used in different contexts. This character is more formal, so it is advisable to use it in written language or formal speech. Common collocations include 礙事 (ài shì, to be a hindrance) and 礙难 (ài nán, to be difficult).
礙 or something close to it
阻 (zǔ) — use 礙 (ài) when referring to hindrances that are more about emotional or metaphorical barriers, while 阻 (zǔ) is typically used for physical obstruction.
What learners get wrong
Learners might confuse 礙 with the more commonly used 障 (zhàng). For example, saying '他是我的障碍' (He is my obstacle) instead of the more appropriate '他是我的礙事' (He is a hindrance to me). Always choose the contextually correct term.
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Word Family of 礙
Words with 礙
What does 障碍 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 礙
You can say '这件事情对我来说很礙事' (This matter is quite obstructive for me).
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