Chinese Character: 挡 (Dǎng - Block; Shelter)
1. Character Basics
Radical: 扌（提手旁） (Hand radical, related to hand actions)
Stroke Count: 9 (Number of strokes: 9)
Structure Analysis: 形声字，从扌（与手的动作相关），当声（dāng，表音）。本义指用手或物体阻挡、遮蔽（如“挡住”）。(Phonetic-semantic character: "扌" (hand radical) + "当" (phonetic component). Originally means "block" or "shelter" (e.g., "挡住" - block).)
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: Dǎng (Third tone)
3. Meaning
"挡" mainly means:
1. Verb: Block (e.g., "挡住光线" - block sunlight);
2. Verb: Shelter from (e.g., "挡风" - shelter from wind);
3. Noun (dialect): Shelter (e.g., "炉挡" - stove shelter). “挡”主要表示：
1. 动词：阻挡（如“挡住光线”）；
2. 动词：遮蔽（如“挡风”）；
3. 名词（方言）：遮蔽物（如“炉挡”）。)
4. Common Words
- 挡住 (dǎng zhù) Block
- 阻挡 (zǔ dǎng) Hinder
- 挡风 (dǎng fēng) Shelter from wind
- 遮挡 (zhē dǎng) Shield
5. Grammar & Usage
"挡" is a verb, often collocating with "住" (stop), "风" (wind), or "光" (light) (e.g., "挡住" - block). Used as predicate (e.g., "他挡住了门" - He blocked the door) or in verb-object phrases (e.g., "遮挡阳光" - shield sunlight). “挡”多作动词，常与“住”“风”“光”等字搭配（如“挡住”“挡风”），可作谓语（如“他挡住了门”）或构成动宾短语（如“遮挡阳光”）。)
6. Cultural Background
The idiom "挡箭牌" (dǎng jiàn pái) means "excuse", using the concept of "blocking" to describe avoiding responsibility. Traditional architecture uses "照壁" (screen wall) to "挡煞" (ward off bad luck), reflecting ancient fengshui culture. 成语“挡箭牌”比喻推托的借口，用“阻挡”的动作描述抽象责任规避；传统建筑“照壁”有“挡煞”功能，体现古代风水文化。)
7. Example Sentence
The big tree blocked the sunlight, so we rested under it. 大树挡住了阳光，我们在树下休息。
Using an umbrella to shelter from the wind can protect your hair from getting messy. 用伞挡风可以保护头发不被吹乱。
8. Memory Tips
Associate "挡" with its radical "扌" (hand) and imagine using hands to block something, like covering your eyes from sunlight. Link to "挡住" to reinforce the core meaning. 联想“挡”的部首“扌”（手），想象用手阻挡物体（如遮挡阳光），结合“挡住”强化核心含义记忆。)