Chinese word

阻拦

Pronunciation

Pinyinzǔ lán

Meaning

  • verbstop

Example

保安人员上前阻拦了打架的人。bǎo ān rén yuán shàng qián zǔ lán le dǎ jià de rén

The security guards stepped forward to stop the people who were fighting.

Illustration for 阻拦 (stop)

More examples

示威者在路口设置障碍，试图阻拦车辆前进。shì wēi zhě zài lù kǒu shè zhì zhàng ài shì tú zǔ lán chē liàng qián jìn

The protesters placed obstacles at the intersection, trying to stop vehicles from moving forward.

Core concept

A moving person, action, or route meets an active barrier that holds its progress back for the moment.

Common phrases

  • 阻拦交通zǔ lán jiāo tōng

    stop traffic

  • 阻拦他人zǔ lán tā rén

    stop other people

Similar words

拦住lán zhù: Stops someone from passing by standing or placing something in the way.
阻止zú zhǐ: Prevents an action or event from taking place.
挡住dǎng zhù: Blocks a place or route with something in the way, preventing passage.
妨碍fáng ài: Makes an action or process harder to carry out by interfering with its progress.

Definition in Chinese

用措施或身体介入在现场阻止某个动作、通行或过程继续下去，通常指临时的制止行为。yòng cuò shī huò shēn tǐ jiè rù zài xiàn chǎng zú zhǐ mǒu gè dòng zuò tōng xíng huò guò chéng jì xù xià qù tōng cháng zhǐ lín shí de zhì zhǐ xíng wéi

Word origin

阻拦 (zǔlán, "to stop by getting in the way") combines 阻 (zǔ, "obstruct") and 拦 (lán, "bar"), forming a verb for interrupting movement or conduct through direct intervention.

Usage tips

  • English often uses one broad verb for both a sudden intervention and a lasting restriction, while this Chinese verb fits a scene where an agent is present and progress is being checked in real time.

Other meanings

  • restrainverb
  • blockverb

Opposites

  • 放行fàng xínglet passverb

Related words

  • 阻拦者zǔ lán zhěblockernoun

Word lists with this word