阻拦
zǔ lán · HSK 7
to stop
🚧🛑 阻 block + 拦 bar = block and bar the way; both halves mean stop
阻 carries 阝 the mound radical, an earthwork that obstructs. 拦 carries 扌 the hand radical, a hand that bars or intercepts. Two stopping verbs stacked, so the word doubles down on halting someone's progress.
拦 — hand radical 扌 + 闌 lán (phonetic)
A semantic-phonetic compound. The hand radical 扌 signals an action done with the hands, while 闌 (lán, originally a railing or barrier across a gate) supplies the sound and reinforces the idea of blocking. Together 拦 means to block, obstruct, or hold back.