妨

fáng

女 + 方

Definitions

fáng (verb) to hinder; to obstruct

fáng (noun) (in questions or negative statements) harm

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 女 represents the meaning and 方 represents the sound.

Semantic: 女 Phonetic: 方

About

妨 is a phono-semantic compound: 女 (woman) provides the meaning, while 方 indicates the pronunciation. Its original sense arose from ancient superstitions that certain women or marriages could bring misfortune or obstruction to a family or husband. Over time, these gendered and superstitious overtones faded, and the meaning generalized into the abstract concept of hindering or interfering with any action, process, or person. Today, the character broadly denotes any obstacle or detriment that prevents something from proceeding smoothly.

Etymology Hide

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Seal Western Han dynasty (202 BC-9 AD)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

请不要妨碍别人工作。

Qǐng bùyào fáng'ài biérén gōngzuò.

Please do not hinder other people's work.

大声喧哗会妨碍他人。

Dàshēng xuānhuá huì fáng'ài tārén.

Making loud noises will disturb others.

这些规定不妨碍你的自由。

Zhèxiē guīdìng bù fáng'ài nǐ de zìyóu.

These regulations do not impede your freedom.

路边停车会妨碍交通。

Lùbiān tíngchē huì fáng'ài jiāotōng.

Parking on the roadside will obstruct traffic.

这样做不妨说是明智的。

Zhèyàng zuò bùfáng shuō shì míngzhì de.

Doing it this way can,不妨碍说, be said to be wise.

过度保护反而会妨害孩子的成长。

Guòdù bǎohù fǎn'ér huì fánghài háizi de chéngzhǎng.

Excessive protection can actually impair a child's development.

他并无妨害公共安全的意图。

Tā bìng wú fánghài gōnggòng ānquán de yìtú.

He has no intention of endangering public safety.

若不妨碍你的计划，我们不妨一同前往。

Ruò bù fáng'ài nǐ de jìhuà, wǒmen bùfáng yītóng qiánwǎng.

If it doesn't interfere with your plans, we might as well go together.

Related Characters

Component: 女

Component: 方

妨