阏 (è) - To block & to obstruct

阏Tone 4

è ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

信嫣

阏 · è

To block;

to obstruct;

to stop;

also used in the term 'Yan Zhi' (阏氏), referring to the consort of a Xiongnu chieftain.

To blockto obstructto stop

Usage highlights

Block the flowXiongnu consortObstruct and stopBlockadeSuppress

Synonyms

  • 阻— to hinder; to block
  • 塞— to block up; to stop

Antonyms

  • 通— to open; to go through
  • 畅— smooth; unimpeded

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The dam blocked the flow of water (阏塞水流).
  • The ancient text mentions the Xiongnu queen (阏氏).
  • He tried to obstruct the passage (阏止通道).

Collocations

  • Block the flow(阏流)
  • Xiongnu consort(阏氏)
  • Obstruct and stop(阏止)
  • Blockade(阏塞)
  • Suppress(阏抑)

Idioms

  • Blocking the flow of water(阏塞水流)
  • The Yan Zhi of the Xiongnu(匈奴阏氏)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Appears in historical texts, particularly in relation to the Xiongnu people, where 'Yan Zhi' (阏氏) was a title for the wife of a chieftain.
  • Used in classical Chinese to describe the act of blocking or obstructing, often in a physical or metaphorical sense.

FAQ