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閼 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
閼èto block, to obstruct, to stop upx, 16 strokes, radical 門
è(e4) T4
  1. 1to block, to obstruct, to stop up
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026

閼è(e4)

The character 閼 (è) means to block or obstruct something. It typically conveys the idea of stopping or impeding progress, often used in contexts where something is being prevented from moving forward or being completed.

Strokes16Radical門
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese culture, the concept of blocking or obstruction can relate to ideas of fate and predestination, seen in literature where characters face barriers in their journeys, symbolizing challenges in life.

Memory Tip

Imagine a gate (the radical 門, which means 'gate') that is being slammed shut to block someone from entering. The sound of 'è' can remind you of the sound of a gate closing forcefully, emphasizing the obstruction.

Meanings of 閼

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

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 閼

閼Simplified
16Strokes
門Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 閼

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Podcast: 閼

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AI Study Notes for 閼

Usage Notes

This character is less common in everyday conversation, often appearing in literary or formal contexts. Be cautious about its tone, as using it incorrectly can change its meaning, and it should not be confused with similar-sounding characters.

HSK Study Tips

While not part of the standard HSK vocabulary, 閼 can help deepen understanding of characters related to obstruction or barriers, connecting with words like 阻止 (zǔzhǐ, to prevent) and 障碍 (zhàng'ài, obstacle). Focus on recognizing its usage in literary texts.

Common Mistakes

Learners may confuse 閼 with 阻 (zǔ), which also means to obstruct. For example, saying '我想要阻这个计划' (Wǒ xiǎng yào zǔ zhège jìhuà) instead of '我想要阻止这个计划' (Wǒ xiǎng yào zǔzhǐ zhège jìhuà) can lead to confusion.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 閼

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Etymology of 閼

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

gate

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

Jason Etymology Detective

Case file: 閼

  1. 1The meaning half門 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 閼? 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 閼?

Decomposition of 閼

IDS Structure⿵門於
閼Full Character
=
門men2
enclosing
於yu2
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 閼?

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

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

The character 閼 (è) means to block or obstruct something. It typically conveys the idea of stopping or impeding progress, often used in contexts where something is being prevented from moving forward or being completed.

When to use 閼

This character is less common in everyday conversation, often appearing in literary or formal contexts. Be cautious about its tone, as using it incorrectly can change its meaning, and it should not be confused with similar-sounding characters.

What learners get wrong

Learners may confuse 閼 with 阻 (zǔ), which also means to obstruct. For example, saying '我想要阻这个计划' (Wǒ xiǎng yào zǔ zhège jìhuà) instead of '我想要阻止这个计划' (Wǒ xiǎng yào zǔzhǐ zhège jìhuà) can lead to confusion.

Write 閼

閼

Practice writing 閼 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 閼

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

Compound Meaning

What does 阏 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 閼

No, it is primarily used in literary or formal contexts.

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