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阻挠 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
阻挠zǔnáoto thwartHSK 7, v, rank #13434, Hard
阻挠zǔnáoto obstruct (sth)HSK 7, v, rank #13434, Hard
zǔnáo(zu3nao2) T3
  1. 1to thwart
  2. 2to obstruct (sth)
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March 24, 2026
阻挠(阻撓)zǔnáo(zu3nao2)

阻挠 (zǔnáo) means to hinder or obstruct someone's progress or actions. It is commonly used in contexts where someone's plans, efforts, or movements are being deliberately blocked or impeded, often suggesting an element of resistance or interference.

Frequency#13434DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese society, the concept of 阻挠 often reflects the collective values where individuals may feel obligated to support group harmony, sometimes leading to indirect forms of obstruction in decision-making processes.

Memory Tip

Imagine a person trying to walk through a door (the character 阻) that is being blocked by a large, annoying gnome (the character 挠). The gnome's actions are thwarting the person's attempts to enter, helping you remember 'to obstruct' and the pronunciation 'zǔ náo'.

Meanings of 阻挠

zǔnáo(zu3nao2)
1to thwart
2to obstruct (sth)
Exercise 1 of 2

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About 阻挠

阻挠Simplified
阻撓Traditional
Strokes
Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#13434Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L6HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2

Podcast: 阻挠

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Podcast: 阻挠

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AI Study Notes for 阻挠

Quick Contrast

妨碍 (fáng'ài) — use 阻挠 when emphasizing deliberate obstruction, while 妨碍 is broader and can imply any form of hindrance.

Memory Mnemonic

Imagine a person trying to walk through a door (the character 阻) that is being blocked by a large, annoying gnome (the character 挠). The gnome's actions are thwarting the person's attempts to enter, helping you remember 'to obstruct' and the pronunciation 'zǔ náo'.

Usage Notes

This word is often used in formal contexts, such as legal or political discussions, and can carry a negative connotation. Common collocations include 阻挠计划 (to obstruct plans) and 阻挠进展 (to hinder progress). Be careful with the tones; using the wrong tone can change the meaning completely.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 6 word, 阻挠 connects to other advanced vocabulary related to conflict and disagreement. Students should focus on its usage in complex sentences and practice synonyms like 妨碍 (fáng'ài) and 干扰 (gānrǎo) to expand their vocabulary.

Cultural Note

In Chinese society, the concept of 阻挠 often reflects the collective values where individuals may feel obligated to support group harmony, sometimes leading to indirect forms of obstruction in decision-making processes.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 阻挠 with similar words like 拦截 (lánjié) and 干扰 (gānrǎo). For example, saying '我阻挠了他的生日派对' (I obstructed his birthday party) might be correct, but it's important to ensure the context aligns with active interference rather than mere hindrance.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 阻挠

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Component Characters

to hinder
7 strokes
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náoto scratch
HSK 79 strokes
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Write 阻挠

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

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Grammar Patterns of 阻挠

阻挠 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 2

Complete the Sentence

参议员西摩威胁说要发表长篇演说来____议案通过。

Senator Seymour has threatened a filibuster to block the bill.

Example Sentences for 阻挠 (2)

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1
参议员西摩威胁说要发表长篇演说来阻挠议案通过。

cān yì yuán xī mó wēi xié shuō yào fā biǎo cháng piān yǎn shuō lái zǔ náo yì àn tōng guò。

Senator Seymour has threatened a filibuster to block the bill.
2
巴多对每一项措施都加以阻挠,这一定让他十分气恼。

bā duō duì měi yī xiàng cuò shī dū jiā yǐ zǔ náo, , zhè yī dìng ràng tā shí fēn qì。

It must have galled him that Bardo thwarted each of these measures.

Cultural Notes for 阻挠

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese society, the concept of 阻挠 often reflects the collective values where individuals may feel obligated to support group harmony, sometimes leading to indirect forms of obstruction in decision-making processes.

Frequently Asked Questions about 阻挠

While both words mean to hinder or obstruct, 阻挠 often implies a more active resistance, whereas 妨碍 can refer to passive obstruction.