How to say "hinder" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 差し支えるさしつかえるichidan verb, intransitive verbCovers something interfering with or inconveniencing a matter so that it becomes difficult to proceed; typically said of work or plans being held up, and also of a person being hindered from doing something.
- 障るさわるgodan verb, intransitive verbSeldom the word you want for plain 'hinder': it means to be harmful to or to irritate, as with things bad for the health or hard on the nerves; use 妨げる for mere obstruction.
- 妨げるさまたげるichidan verb, transitive verbThe most direct and general choice for the core sense of 'hinder': something disturbs, obstructs, or prevents an activity or its progress, as noise hindering sleep or study.
- 阻むはばむgodan verb, transitive verbLeans toward the stronger 'stop, prevent' senses: to keep someone from doing something by blocking or checking them, as when an opponent's advance is thwarted; for mere hindering, 妨げる is the better fit.
Choose 「妨げる」 for the general sense of hindering an activity, 「阻む」 for actively stopping or thwarting someone, 「差し支える」 for something interfering with a matter, and 「障る」 when the effect is harm or irritation rather than mere hindrance.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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