碍

礙

ài

㝵 + 石

Definitions

ài (verb) to hinder; to obstruct; to block

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 石 represents the meaning and 㝵 represents the sound. Simplified form of 礙.

Semantic: 石 Phonetic: 㝵

About

The character 碍 (traditional: 礙) features the stone radical 石 (shí) on the left, linking it to rocks or solid obstacles. Its traditional form uses 疑 (yí) on the right for the phonetic component, while the simplified version replaces this with 㝵 (dé), reducing strokes while maintaining the phonetic function. The stone radical grounds the character’s core meaning: a physical blockage or hindrance that restricts movement. This concept naturally extends to abstract uses, such as delays, interference, or any barrier impeding action.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

请你别碍事。

Qǐng nǐ bié àishì.

Please don't get in the way.

不要妨碍我。

Bùyào fáng'ài wǒ.

Do not hinder me.

这本书很碍地方。

Zhè běn shū hěn ài dìfāng.

This book is taking up too much space.

路上有障碍。

Lùshàng yǒu zhàng'ài.

There is an obstacle on the road.

他的行为妨碍了进展。

Tā de xíngwéi fáng'àile jìnzhǎn.

His behavior hindered the progress.

克服障碍才能成功。

Kèfú zhàng'ài cái néng chénggōng.

You can only succeed by overcoming obstacles.

这种政策可能会妨碍经济发展。

Zhè zhǒng zhèngcè kěnéng huì fáng'ài jīngjì fāzhǎn.

This kind of policy might hinder economic development.

尽管存在许多障碍，他们仍然坚持完成了项目。

Jǐnguǎn cúnzài xǔduō zhàng'ài, tāmen réngrán jiānchí wánchéngle xiàngmù.

Despite the existence of many obstacles, they still persevered and completed the project.

Related Characters

Component: 㝵

Component: 石

碍