阻止 (zǔzhǐ) is a transitive verb meaning 'to prevent' or 'to stop (someone/something) from doing something.' It combines two characters: 阻 (zǔ), meaning 'to obstruct' or 'to hinder,' and 止 (zhǐ), meaning 'to stop' or 'to cease.' Together, they emphasize an active, deliberate effort to block an action before it occurs — not just halting something already in progress, but intervening to avert it entirely. The word carries a formal or serious tone and is commonly used in contexts involving safety, rules, authority, or urgent intervention.

阻止 is typically followed by a verb phrase or clause introduced by 了, 着, or the particle 地, and often appears with agents like police, parents, laws, or natural forces. It implies intentionality and effectiveness — if someone 阻止s an action, that action generally does not happen. It’s more forceful and authoritative than similar verbs like 阻碍 (to hinder) or 防止 (to guard against), which focus on precaution rather than direct intervention.