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阂 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
阂héobstructvg, 9 strokes, radical 门, Very Hard
阂héseparated, blocked; to prevent, to blockvg, 9 strokes, radical 门, Very Hard
hé(he2) T2
  1. 1obstruct
  2. 2separated, blocked; to prevent, to block
Listen to the audio pronunciation 3 times to gain XP
March 24, 2026
阂(閡)hé(he2)

The character 阂 (hé) primarily means to obstruct or block something. It is often used in contexts that describe being separated or prevented from accessing something, such as relationships or physical barriers. Its nuance conveys a sense of impediment or hindrance.

Strokes9Radical门Frequency#—DifficultyVery Hard
Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, the concept of 阂 can relate to blockages in the body's energy (气) flow, impacting health and well-being. This reflects a broader cultural view of balance and harmony in life.

Memory Tip

Imagine a large wall (阂) blocking your view. The wall is made of stones that look like the radical for 'door' (门) and 'earth' (土), suggesting an obstruction that prevents you from seeing what lies beyond. Think of a blocked path that you can't cross, which helps you remember both the meaning and pronunciation.

Meanings of 阂

hé(he2)
1obstruct
2separated, blocked; to prevent, to block
Exercise 1 of 2

Listen & Choose the Meaning

Choose the correct answer:

About 阂

阂Simplified
閡Traditional
9Strokes
门Radical
动语素dòngcíverb root (v.root)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

Podcast: 阂

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Podcast: 阂

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AI Study Notes for 阂

Quick Contrast

隔 (gé) - use 阂 (hé) when emphasizing obstruction or hindrance, while 隔 (gé) focuses more on separation or distance.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a large wall (阂) blocking your view. The wall is made of stones that look like the radical for 'door' (门) and 'earth' (土), suggesting an obstruction that prevents you from seeing what lies beyond. Think of a blocked path that you can't cross, which helps you remember both the meaning and pronunciation.

Usage Notes

This character is typically used in formal contexts, especially in written language. Be cautious not to confuse it with similar-sounding words, and remember that 阂 often pairs with terms related to separation. The correct tone is the second tone (hé), so practice distinguishing it from other tones.

HSK Study Tips

Although 阂 is not included in the HSK vocabulary lists, it can be related to other words expressing separation or obstruction. Focus on recognizing its use in literary or formal texts, which will help expand your vocabulary for more complex expressions.

Cultural Note

In traditional Chinese medicine, the concept of 阂 can relate to blockages in the body's energy (气) flow, impacting health and well-being. This reflects a broader cultural view of balance and harmony in life.

Common Mistakes

Learners often mistakenly write 阂 as 隔 (gé), which means 'to separate' but has a different nuance. Make sure to remember that 阂 specifically refers to obstruction rather than just separation.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 阂

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Etymology of 阂

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

Phonosemantic compound. 门 represents the meaning and 亥 represents the sound. Simplified form of 閡.

Memory Hint

gate

Semantic (meaning)门
+
Phonetic (sound)亥
Learn more about Phono-semantic (形声字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Character Formation Type

What type of character formation is 阂?

Decomposition of 阂

IDS Structure⿵门亥
阂Full Character
=
门Men2
enclosing
亥hai4
inner
Exercise 1 of 2

Identify the Components

Which of these is a component of 阂?

Write 阂

阂

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

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Grammar Patterns of 阂

阂 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 3

Complete the Sentence

听起来好像你和汤姆之间产生了隔____。

It sounds as if you have grown apart from Tom.

Example Sentences for 阂 (3)

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1
听起来好像你和汤姆之间产生了隔阂。

tīng qǐ lái hǎo xiàng nǐ hé tāng mǔ zhī jiān chǎn shēng le gé hé。

It sounds as if you have grown apart from Tom.
2
国与国之间的隔阂是由沟通缓慢而又太少形成的.

guó yǔ guó zhī jiān de gé hé shì yóu gōu tōng huǎn màn ér yòu tài shǎo xíng chéng de.

Barriers between nations are reared by slow and infrequent communication.
3
他们之间的隔阂比以往任何时候都要深。

tā mén zhī jiān de gé hé bǐ yǐ wǎng rèn hé shí hòu dū yào shēn。

The gulf between them yawned wider than ever.

Cultural Notes for 阂

🏮Cultural insight

In traditional Chinese medicine, the concept of 阂 can relate to blockages in the body's energy (气) flow, impacting health and well-being. This reflects a broader cultural view of balance and harmony in life.

Word Family of 阂

Words Containing This Character2
隔阂géhémisunderstanding隔閡
阂héobstruct閡
Exercise 1 of 2

Compound Meaning

What does 隔阂 mean?

Frequently Asked Questions about 阂

You can say '这条河阂住了我们' (This river blocks us).