Definition
拦 (lán) means to block or stop someone/something in motion, like flagging down a taxi or physically blocking a person's path. It focuses on intercepting movement, unlike 挡 (dǎng) which often means to shield or cover (挡风, 挡光) or to get in the way. 阻拦 (zǔ lán) is a more formal synonym for 拦.
verb
to blockto obstructto flag down (a vehicle)
Easily confused
- 栏lánlook-alikefence; railing; barrier
- 蓝lánsound-alikeblue
- 烂lànlook-alike(of food) rotten, spoiled, or overcooked to a soft consistency
- 懒lǎnsound-alikelazy
- 揽lǎnsound-aliketo embrace, to take into one's arms
Examples
- 。Jǐngchá zài lùkǒu lán zhù le nà liàng chē.The police stopped that car at the intersection.
- 拦，。Bié lán wǒ, wǒ yídìng yào qù.Don't stop me, I must go.
- 拦。Tā zài lù biān lán le yí liàng chūzū chē.He flagged down a taxi on the roadside.
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