遏

曷 + 辶

Definitions

è (verb) to restrain; to check; to hold back

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 辶 represents the meaning and 曷 represents the sound.

Semantic: 辶 Phonetic: 曷

About

遏 is a phono-semantic compound: 辶 (walking, movement) gives the meaning, and 曷 the sound. The character originally meant to physically block or stop someone in motion, as if obstructing a traveler's path. Over time, this extended to the abstract suppression of negative forces, such as halting the spread of disease, curbing violent behavior, or holding back intense emotions, shifting from road blockades to controlling spreading phenomena.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Clerical Eastern Han dynasty (25-220 AD)

Clerical Wu (Three Kingdoms: 222-280 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

遏制通货膨胀是政府的首要任务。

Èzhì tōnghuò péngzhàng shì zhèngfǔ de shǒuyào rènwù.

Controlling inflation is the government's top priority.

我们必须遏制这种不良风气的蔓延。

Wǒmen bìxū èzhì zhè zhǒng bùliáng fēngqì de mànyán.

We must curb the spread of this unhealthy trend.

任何力量都无法遏止历史的车轮。

Rènhé lìliang dōu wúfǎ èzhǐ lìshǐ de chēlún.

No force can stop the wheel of history.

政府采取强力措施来遏止暴力犯罪。

Zhèngfǔ cǎiqǔ qiánglì cuòshī lái èzhǐ bàolì fànzuì.

The government has taken strong measures to suppress violent crime.

新政策旨在遏抑房价的过快上涨。

Xīn zhèngcè zhǐ zài èyì fángjià de guòkuài shàngzhǎng.

The new policy aims to curb the excessive rise in housing prices.

他的怒气如同洪流，难以遏抑。

Tā de nùqì rútóng hóngliú, nányǐ èyì.

His anger was like a torrent, difficult to suppress.

这种药物的作用是遏阻癌细胞的扩散。

Zhè zhǒng yàowù de zuòyòng shì èzǔ áixìbāo de kuòsàn.

The effect of this drug is to block the spread of cancer cells.

军民携手，成功阻遏了敌人的攻势。

Jūnmín xiéshǒu, chénggōng zǔ'è le dírén de gōngshì.

The military and civilians joined hands and successfully thwarted the enemy's offensive.

Related Characters

Component: 曷

Component: 辶

遏