unknown, 11 strokes, radical 穴, rank #48351, Very Hard
zhì(zhi4) T4
1to obstruct, to stop
2to stop up
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March 24, 2026
窒zhì(zhi4)
The character 窒 (zhì) means to obstruct or to stop something, often referring to a blockage or hindrance. It is commonly used in contexts where an action or process is hindered, such as in medical terms related to respiratory issues or in discussions about physical barriers.
Strokes11Radical穴Frequency#48351DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese medicine, the concept of obstruction is significant, often related to the flow of 'Qi' (气), which must not be obstructed for good health. This character might appear in discussions about health and wellness.
Memory Tip
Imagine a 'window' (the radical '窓' represents a window) getting 'stopped up' with a thick fog blocking your view. The sound 'zhì' can remind you of 'shut'—as if the fog has shut out the view, creating an obstruction.
Meanings of 窒
zhì(zhi4)
1to obstruct, to stop
2to stop up
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 窒
窒Simplified
11Strokes
穴Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
Podcast: 窒
Podcast: 窒
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AI Study Notes for 窒
Usage Notes
Be cautious with the context in which you use 窒; it is more formal and may not be suitable for casual conversations. Common collocations include 窒息 (zhìxī, to suffocate) and 窒碍 (zhì'ài, to hinder). Ensure you use the correct tone, as mispronouncing it can change the meaning.
HSK Study Tips
While 窒 is not part of the standard HSK vocabulary, understanding it can help learners at higher levels grasp medical or technical texts. Focus on its usage in compound words and practice its pronunciation to differentiate it from similar-sounding characters.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 窒 with similar-sounding characters, such as 质 (zhì, quality), leading to misunderstandings. For example, saying '质塞' instead of '窒塞' when referring to a blockage is incorrect; use 窒塞 (zhìsāi) for obstruction.
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 窒
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Phonosemantic compound. 穴 represents the meaning and 至 represents the sound.
1The meaning half穴 carries the sense.
2The sound half至 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
3The giveawaycave
4On the record aspictophonetic.
Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.
Want the full history of 窒? 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 窒?
Decomposition of 窒
IDS Structure⿱穴至
窒Full Character
=
穴xue2
top
至zhi4
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2
Identify the Components
Which of these is a component of 窒?
How to say to obstruct, to stop in Chinese
“to obstruct, to stop” in Chinese is窒zhì
The character 窒 (zhì) means to obstruct or to stop something, often referring to a blockage or hindrance. It is commonly used in contexts where an action or process is hindered, such as in medical terms related to respiratory issues or in discussions about physical barriers.
When to use 窒
Be cautious with the context in which you use 窒; it is more formal and may not be suitable for casual conversations. Common collocations include 窒息 (zhìxī, to suffocate) and 窒碍 (zhì'ài, to hinder). Ensure you use the correct tone, as mispronouncing it can change the meaning.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 窒 with similar-sounding characters, such as 质 (zhì, quality), leading to misunderstandings. For example, saying '质塞' instead of '窒塞' when referring to a blockage is incorrect; use 窒塞 (zhìsāi) for obstruction.
Write 窒
窒
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Practice writing 窒 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.
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Grammar Patterns of 窒
窒 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
她厌倦了自己生活令人____息的一成不变。
She was bored with the deadening routine of her life.
Example Sentences for 窒 (7)
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1
她厌倦了自己生活令人窒息的一成不变。
tā yàn juàn le zì jǐ shēng huó líng rén zhì xī de yī chéng bù biàn。
She was bored with the deadening routine of her life.
2
那座城市的街道肮脏不堪，弥漫着令人窒息的废气。
nà zuò chéng shì de jiē dào āng zāng bù kān， ， mí màn zháo líng rén zhì xī de fèi。
The city's streets are filthy and choked with exhaust fumes.
3
再输入并带上“窒息”,安东尼真的在掐他.
zài shū rù bìng dài shàng“ “ zhì”, xī ”, ān dōng ní zhēn de zài.
Type his name with choke and see Carmelo Anthony literally choking him.
4
那房间闻起来有股窒闷潮湿的味道.
nà fáng jiān wén qǐ lái yǒu gǔ zhì mèn cháo shī de wèi dào.
