dǔsè: 堵塞 - To block, Clog, Obstruction

• Keywords: 堵塞 meaning, dǔsè Chinese, how to say block in Chinese, clog in Chinese, traffic jam Chinese, 堵车 vs 堵塞, blocked artery Chinese, Chinese word for obstruction, HSK 5 vocabulary
• Summary: Learn about the versatile Chinese word 堵塞 (dǔsè), which means “to block,” “clog,” or “an obstruction.” This essential term is used to describe everything from frustrating traffic jams and clogged household pipes to serious medical conditions like blocked arteries. This page will break down its meaning, practical uses, and key differences from similar words, helping you use it accurately in everyday conversation.

• Pinyin (with tone marks): dǔsè
• Part of Speech: Verb, Noun
• HSK Level: HSK 5
• Concise Definition: To block, clog, or stop up a passage or channel; a blockage or obstruction.
• In a Nutshell: Think of 堵塞 (dǔsè) as the concept of a pathway being completely filled up so that nothing can pass through. It’s the core idea behind a clogged drain, a traffic-filled highway, or a blocked blood vessel. The feeling is one of complete stoppage and frustrated flow. Whether it's water, cars, or blood, if its path is blocked, 堵塞 is the word to describe it.

• 堵 (dǔ): This character is composed of the “earth” radical 土 (tǔ) on the left and 者 (zhě) on the right, which primarily provides the sound. The 土 radical hints at the original meaning: using earth or a mound to create a barrier or wall to stop something. Think of building a dam to block water.
• 塞 (sè): This character means to stop up, plug, or seal. You can imagine something being packed tightly under a roof (宀), preventing movement. It implies filling a hole or gap.
• When combined, 堵塞 (dǔsè) creates a powerful and descriptive term. 堵 (dǔ) is the act of creating a barrier, and 塞 (sè) is the act of plugging the remaining space. Together, they mean a complete and thorough blockage.

While 堵塞 (dǔsè) isn't a deeply philosophical term, its most common usage, 交通堵塞 (jiāotōng dǔsè) or “traffic jam,” is a massive part of modern Chinese cultural experience. With rapid urbanization and a huge increase in car ownership over the past few decades, the “traffic jam” has become a great equalizer and a shared daily struggle for millions of city dwellers. Complaining about traffic is a common way for strangers and friends to bond, much like discussing the weather in other cultures. In Western culture, we might use different words for different blockages: “clogged” for a pipe, “jammed” for traffic, “congested” for a nose, and “blocked” for an artery. The Chinese term 堵塞 is broader and can be applied more universally to all these physical blockages. It has a slightly more formal and technical feel than a simple word like “stuck.” It describes the *state* of being blocked rather than the action of getting stuck. For instance, you would say a pipe *is* blocked (堵塞了), not that the pipe is “blocking.”

堵塞 is a standard, neutral term used in a variety of contexts, primarily for physical blockages.

• Traffic Congestion: This is the most frequent use. While the colloquial term is 堵车 (dǔchē), the more formal or official term used in news reports, signs, and formal writing is 交通堵塞 (jiāotōng dǔsè).
• Household Problems: It's the perfect word for plumbing issues. You'd call a plumber and say your sink or toilet is 堵塞了 (dǔsè le).
• Medical Contexts: In a medical setting, it's used to describe serious conditions. For example, 血管堵塞 (xuèguǎn dǔsè) means “vascular blockage” or “blocked blood vessel,” and 肠梗阻 (cháng dǔsè) refers to an intestinal obstruction.
• Common Ailments: A stuffy nose is often described as 鼻子堵塞 (bízi dǔsè).

• Example 1:
  • 每天下班高峰期，这条路都会严重堵塞。
  • Pinyin: Měitiān xiàbān gāofēngqī, zhè tiáo lù dōu huì yánzhòng dǔsè.
  • English: During rush hour every evening, this road gets seriously blocked.
  • Analysis: This is a classic example of using 堵塞 in a slightly more formal context (like a statement of fact) to describe traffic. The colloquial way to say this among friends would be “这条路堵车很严重 (zhè tiáo lù dǔchē hěn yánzhòng)”.
• Example 2:
  • 厨房的水槽堵塞了，水下不去了。
  • Pinyin: Chúfáng de shuǐcáo dǔsè le, shuǐ xià bu qù le.
  • English: The kitchen sink is clogged, the water won't go down.
  • Analysis: A very practical and common household complaint. The 了 (le) indicates a change of state – it wasn't clogged before, but it is now.
• Example 3:
  • 医生说他有轻微的血管堵塞问题。
  • Pinyin: Yīshēng shuō tā yǒu qīngwēi de xuèguǎn dǔsè wèntí.
  • English: The doctor said he has a minor issue with a blocked blood vessel.
  • Analysis: Here, 堵塞 is used as a noun within a larger noun phrase (“blockage problem”). This is typical in medical and technical descriptions.
• Example 4:
  • 我感冒了，鼻子堵塞得厉害，晚上睡不好觉。
  • Pinyin: Wǒ gǎnmào le, bízi dǔsè de lìhài, wǎnshang shuì bu hǎo jiào.
  • English: I have a cold, my nose is terribly stuffy, and I can't sleep well at night.
  • Analysis: 鼻子堵塞 (bízi dǔsè) is the standard term for a stuffy or blocked nose. The particle 得 (de) links the verb to the degree of the blockage (“terribly”).
• Example 5:
  • 一场事故造成了高速公路长达数公里的堵塞。
  • Pinyin: Yī chǎng shìgù zàochéng le gāosù gōnglù cháng dá shù gōnglǐ de dǔsè.
  • English: An accident caused a blockage on the highway that stretched for several kilometers.
  • Analysis: In this sentence, 堵塞 functions as a noun, meaning “a blockage” or “a jam.”
• Example 6:
  • 如果下水道堵塞了，你就得叫管道工来疏通。
  • Pinyin: Rúguǒ xiàshuǐdào dǔsè le, nǐ jiù děi jiào guǎndàogōng lái shūtōng.
  • English: If the sewer pipe gets clogged, you have to call a plumber to clear it.
  • Analysis: This shows the problem-solution relationship. The problem is 堵塞 (clogged), and the solution is 疏通 (shūtōng) (to unclog).
• Example 7:
  • 大量的落叶堵塞了排水沟。
  • Pinyin: Dàliàng de luòyè dǔsè le páishuǐgōu.
  • English: A large amount of fallen leaves blocked the drainage ditch.
  • Analysis: This sentence clearly shows the cause (leaves) and effect (blockage). 堵塞 is the verb describing the action of the leaves.
• Example 8:
  • 为了防止管道堵塞，请不要把食物残渣倒进水槽。
  • Pinyin: Wèile fángzhǐ guǎndào dǔsè, qǐng búyào bǎ shíwù cánzhā dào jìn shuǐcáo.
  • English: To prevent the pipes from clogging, please do not pour food scraps into the sink.
  • Analysis: This is an example of preventative language. Here, 堵塞 is a potential state to be avoided.
• Example 9:
  • 城市规划者正在寻找解决交通堵塞的新方法。
  • Pinyin: Chéngshì guīhuàzhě zhèngzài xúnzhǎo jiějué jiāotōng dǔsè de xīn fāngfǎ.
  • English: Urban planners are looking for new ways to solve traffic congestion.
  • Analysis: 交通堵塞 (jiāotōng dǔsè) is the full, formal noun for “traffic congestion.”
• Example 10:
  • 这台机器的过滤器好像堵塞了，需要清理一下。
  • Pinyin: Zhè tái jīqì de guòlǜqì hǎoxiàng dǔsè le, xūyào qīnglǐ yīxià.
  • English: It seems like the filter on this machine is clogged and needs to be cleaned.
  • Analysis: This demonstrates the term's use in a mechanical or technical context, not just for traffic or plumbing.

• `堵塞 (dǔsè)` vs. `堵车 (dǔchē)`: This is the most common point of confusion for learners.
  • 堵车 (dǔchē): (Lit: block car) A verb or noun used colloquially and specifically for *traffic jams*. It's what you'd say to a friend: “路上又堵车了！” (There's a traffic jam again!).
  • 堵塞 (dǔsè): More formal and versatile. 交通堵塞 (jiāotōng dǔsè) is the formal term for a traffic jam. But 堵塞 on its own can refer to any kind of blockage (pipes, arteries, etc.). You would never use `堵车` to describe a clogged sink.
  • Incorrect: 我的水槽堵车了。 (Wǒ de shuǐcáo dǔchē le.) ✗
  • Correct: 我的水槽堵塞了。 (Wǒ de shuǐcáo dǔsè le.) ✓
• `堵塞 (dǔsè)` vs. `卡住 (kǎzhù)`:
  • 堵塞 refers to a *channel* being filled or blocked.
  • 卡住 (kǎzhù) means a single object is *stuck* and cannot move.
  • Example: Paper doesn't 堵塞 a printer; it gets 卡住 (paper jam is `卡纸 kǎzhǐ`). A key gets 卡住 in a lock. However, a buildup of grease and hair would 堵塞 a pipe.
• False Friends (What NOT to use `堵塞` for):
  • To block a person online: Use 拉黑 (lāhēi).
  • To block someone's path or view: Use 挡住 (dǎngzhù). (e.g., “你挡住我的路了!” - You're blocking my way!)
  • To block a road for construction: Use 封路 (fēnglù) (to seal off a road).

• 堵车 (dǔchē) - The most common and colloquial term for a traffic jam.
• 拥堵 (yōngdǔ) - To be congested or crowded. A slightly more formal synonym for traffic jams, often used in writing.
• 阻塞 (zǔsè) - A very close synonym to 堵塞, often interchangeable but slightly more common in formal medical or technical writing (e.g., “bronchial obstruction”).
• 堵住 (dǔzhù) - A verb-complement form meaning “to have successfully blocked something up.” It emphasizes the result of the blocking action.
• 畅通 (chàngtōng) - Antonym: unblocked, clear, flowing smoothly. You hope for the roads to be 畅通.
• 疏通 (shūtōng) - To dredge, unclog, or clear a blockage. This is the action you take to fix a 堵塞.
• 卡住 (kǎzhù) - To be stuck or jammed (as in a single object).
• 塞车 (sāichē) - Another term for traffic jam, used more frequently in Southern China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.