挡 dǎng to block
to block; to obstruct; to resist
How to remember 挡: 扌 hand + 当 act as = to block. The goalkeeper throws up one hand, ready to act as a wall against the penalty, and dives to block the ball.
Component breakdown
挡 = 扌 hand + 当 act as
- 扌 hand
- 当 act as
- ⺌ small
- 𫜹 snout
The goalkeeper throws up one hand, ready to act as a wall against the penalty, and dives to block the ball.
How it is used
- 你挡住我了 (nǐ dǎngzhù wǒ le) - "you're blocking me" - shows the common resultative pattern 挡住 dǎngzhù.
- 阻挡 zǔdǎng "to block/stop," 抵挡 dǐdǎng "to withstand/resist," 遮挡 zhēdǎng "to shield/screen" are the standard formal compounds.
- Distinguish from 拦 lán "to stop/intercept": 挡 is about a physical obstacle blocking a path or view, 拦 is about actively stopping something in motion.