无碍

無礙
wú'ài
adjective #33,624

Meanings

  1. 1 unhindered; unimpeded
  2. 2 of no consequence; harmless
  3. 3 free of obstruction (e.g. 圆融无碍)

Examples

HSK 3
Zhè diǎn xiǎo shāng wú'ài, xiūxi yíxià jiù hǎo.
This little injury is no big deal - just rest a bit and you'll be fine.
HSK 6
Tāmen liǎ gǎnqíng hěn hǎo, wú'ài yú gōngzuò.
The two of them are close, but it doesn't interfere with work.

Tips

register
Slightly literary. Common phrases: 无碍大局 ("doesn't affect the overall situation"), 畅通无碍 ("flowing freely / unobstructed"), 圆融无碍 ("completely harmonious without obstruction," Buddhist register).
history
In Buddhism (especially Huayan school), 无碍 describes the perfectly unobstructed interpenetration of all phenomena - 事事无碍 ("phenomenon and phenomenon do not obstruct each other"). The everyday "no problem" usage descends from this metaphysical sense.

Stroke Order

ài