拦 (lán) is a Chinese character meaning “to block”. It is written from 扌 (hand (radical form)) and 兰 (orchid), side by side, and takes 8 strokes.
Build the character for “to block”
Four steps: break it apart, build it, recall it, use it in a word.
StartLearn this character
Structure
扌 + 兰
Left–right structure
Structure from: 现代字形拆分，经 hanzi-writer-data 笔画数据核验（扌3画 + 兰5画 = 8画）
Memory aid
A hand (扌) thrown out in front of an orchid (兰): stop right there, don't step on the flowers.
This is a memory aid, not the historical origin.
Stroke order
8 strokes
In real words
- 拦住lán zhùto block; to stop someone in their tracks拦 = lán
- 阻拦zǔ lánto obstruct; to bar someone from doing something拦 = lán
Go deeper
All readings
to block
to block; to bar the way; to hold someone or something back
挡住去路，不让人或东西通过。 — studyhanzi 编写
Words with this reading
- 拦住lán zhùto block; to stop someone in their tracks拦 = lán
- 阻拦zǔ lánto obstruct; to bar someone from doing something拦 = lán
Stroke data: hanzi-writer-data (Arphic Public License) · licenses & attributions
Questions people ask about this character
What does 拦 mean?
拦 (lán) means to block; to bar the way; to hold someone or something back.
How do you pronounce 拦?
It is pronounced lán.
What parts is 拦 made of?
扌 (hand (radical form)) and 兰 (orchid), side by side. The recorded source is: 现代字形拆分，经 hanzi-writer-data 笔画数据核验（扌3画 + 兰5画 = 8画）. Components are the building blocks of the shape; the radical used for dictionary lookup is a separate thing.
How many strokes does 拦 have?
8. You can watch the stroke order on this page, or trace it yourself.
What is the radical of 拦?
扌. The radical is how the character is filed in a dictionary — it is not the whole story of how the character is built.
What words use 拦?
Common ones are 拦住 and 阻拦. The reading of 拦 is not the same in every word, so each word on this page shows which reading applies.