阻止

そし

obstruction, check, hindrance

JLPT N1

Character Breakdown

Usage and Nuances

The verb 阻止 (zǔzhǐ) means "to prevent" or "to stop" something from happening. It often implies active intervention to block or hinder an action or event. It is commonly used in formal and everyday contexts, such as preventing crimes, accidents, or undesirable behaviors.

Common Collocations

These collocations show 阻止 used with nouns representing events or actions that one wants to stop.

Register and Tone

阻止 is neutral and can be used in both spoken and written Chinese. It is slightly more formal than simpler verbs like 停止 (tíngzhǐ, to stop) because it emphasizes prevention or active blocking.

Common Confusions

Do not confuse 阻止 with 停止. 阻止 focuses on preventing something from happening or continuing, often before or during the action. 停止 means to stop an action that is already ongoing.

Summary

Use 阻止 when you want to express actively preventing or blocking an action or event. It is versatile and appears frequently in news reports, instructions, and everyday conversation when discussing prevention or intervention.

Example Sentences

The police successfully prevented a robbery.

We should prevent children from coming into contact with dangerous things.

He tried to stop me from leaving, but I had already made up my mind.