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阏 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
阏èto block, to obstruct, to stop upx, 11 strokes, radical 门
阏èto restrainunknown, 11 strokes, radical 门
阏èto controlunknown, 11 strokes, radical 门
阏yānto block, to obstruct, to stop upx, 11 strokes, radical 门
阏yānto restrainunknown, 11 strokes, radical 门
阏yānto controlunknown, 11 strokes, radical 门
è(e4)
primary
 T4
  1. 1to block, to obstruct, to stop up
  2. 2to restrain
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

阏(閼)è(e4)

The character 阏 (è) means to block, obstruct, or stop up something. It is often used in contexts where something prevents movement or progress, such as blocking a road or obstructing communication. This character can also imply restraint or control over a situation or object.

Strokes11Radical门
Cultural Note

In ancient Chinese literature, 阏 is sometimes associated with the concept of barriers or control in governance, reflecting historical themes of power and restriction. It can also relate to various philosophical ideas about the balance of forces.

Memory Tip

Imagine a heavy gate (阝) blocking a road, preventing any cars from passing. The sound 'è' can remind you of the sound of an engine being halted, emphasizing the blockage.

Meanings of 阏

è(e4)
primary
1to block, to obstruct, to stop up
2to restrain
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 阏

阏Simplified
閼Traditional
11Strokes
门Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 阏

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Podcast: 阏

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AI Study Notes for 阏

Usage Notes

Be cautious about the context in which you use 阏, as it can have a slightly formal tone. It commonly appears in literary or historical contexts rather than everyday conversation. Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words like '恶' (è), which means 'evil.'

HSK Study Tips

While 阏 is not part of HSK vocabulary, it can enrich your understanding of words related to obstruction at higher levels. Focus on recognizing its components and how they relate to similar characters like '阻' (zǔ) meaning 'to obstruct.'

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 阏 with 阻 (zǔ), leading to incorrect usage in sentences. For example, saying 阏路 (è lù) instead of 阻路 (zǔ lù) for 'block the road' can create confusion.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 阏

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Etymology of 阏

Formation Typepictophonetic
六书 ClassificationPhono-semantic (形声字)~80-90% of characters
Memory Hint

gate

Semantic (meaning)门
+
Phonetic (sound)於
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 阏

  1. 1The meaning half门 carries the sense.
  2. 2The sound half於 is there for the reading, not the meaning.
  3. 3The giveawaygate
  4. 4On the record aspictophonetic.

Every clue here comes from the character's recorded structure — nothing is guessed.

Want the full history of 阏? 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 阏?

Decomposition of 阏

IDS Structure⿵门於
阏Full Character
=
门Men2
enclosing
於yu2
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 阏?

How to say to block, to obstruct, to stop up in Chinese

“to block, to obstruct, to stop up” in Chinese is阏è

The character 阏 (è) means to block, obstruct, or stop up something. It is often used in contexts where something prevents movement or progress, such as blocking a road or obstructing communication. This character can also imply restraint or control over a situation or object.

When to use 阏

Be cautious about the context in which you use 阏, as it can have a slightly formal tone. It commonly appears in literary or historical contexts rather than everyday conversation. Avoid confusing it with similar-sounding words like '恶' (è), which means 'evil.'

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 阏 with 阻 (zǔ), leading to incorrect usage in sentences. For example, saying 阏路 (è lù) instead of 阻路 (zǔ lù) for 'block the road' can create confusion.

Write 阏

阏

Practice writing 阏 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

Write correctly 3 times to earn XP

Word Family of 阏

Words Containing This Character1
阏èto block閼
Exercise 1 of 1

Compound Meaning

What does 阏 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 阏

You might say 阏住了入口 (è zhù le rùkǒu), which means 'blocked the entrance.'

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