TSUMUGU · B1 (est.) · 字
阻
阻 ＝ 阜 ＋ 且
ㄗㄨˇ · zǔ
verb — to block, obstruct, hinder
字源 FORM — what the parts do
阜義a mound, rugged terrainwritten 阝 on the left
{j,q,x→z}IFTqiě → zǔ — the palatal hardens back to z, the vowel and tone both move
A steep mound (阜, the 阝 on the left) stands in the way — to block. 且 qiě carries the sound, its soft initial hardening back to z. From terrain you can't cross: 阻擋, 阻礙, 阻力 — every kind of obstruction.
故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by
路前一道陡阜（阝），抬頭看不到頂——走不過去。
A steep mound (阝) rears up across the path, no top in sight — no way through.
字源記憶法
意 · Meanings
(本義)阻擋、阻礙— to block, obstruct常用
→阻力— resistance — what blocks the motion常用
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension