拦

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to block sb's path; to obstruct; to flag down (a taxi)

Sound it out + =

Formation & memory

Break the character into parts you already know.

Phono-semantic compound (形声字)

扌 meaning “hand” + 兰 sound ( lán )

Components 扌兰

impede · Heisig RSH #1762

fingers + 兰 orchid

Keyword method from Heisig's Remembering Simplified Hanzi.

The most common words first — learning a character in context makes it stick.

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
拦路虎	lán lù hǔ	stumbling block
广告拦截器	guǎng gào lán jié qì	ad-blocker
拦精灵	lán jīng líng	(slang) condom (pun on 藍精靈\|蓝精灵[Lan2 jing1 ling2])
口无遮拦	kǒu wú zhē lán	to blab; to shoot one's mouth off; to commit a gaffe
拦车	lán chē	to thumb a lift; to hitchhike
拦路	lán lù	to block sb's path; to waylay
拦网	lán wǎng	to intercept at the net (volleyball, tennis etc); to block
拦河坝	lán hé bà	a dam across a river
拦住	lán zhù	to stop; to bar the way
拦检	lán jiǎn	(of police etc) to stop (sb) for inspection; to pull (sb) over
拦腰	lán yāo	(hitting) squarely in the middle; (slicing) across the middle; to hold by the waist
拦阻	lán zǔ	to block; to obstruct
阻拦	zǔ lán	to stop; to obstruct
拦柜	lán guì	sales counter; inquiry desk
拦截	lán jié	to intercept
拦劫	lán jié	to mug; to intercept and rob

Characters sharing the sound component 兰 — compare how they read.

Character	Pinyin	Meaning
兰 sound part	lán	orchid; elegant, graceful
烂	làn	overcooked, overripe; rotten, spoiled
栏	lán	fence, railing, balustrade