obstruct

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 窒 has 11 strokes and conveys obstruction.
• Basic usage: 窒素 is read ちっそ, and 窒息 is read ちっそく.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• A substance and suffocation
  • 液体窒素 means liquid nitrogen.
  • 煙による窒息 means suffocation caused by smoke.
  • In this example, による indicates the cause of suffocation.