How to say "interruption" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 中止ちゅうしnoun, suru verb, transitive verbInterruption as calling off: an event, game, or service is discontinued or cancelled, so the emphasis is on stopping rather than on a temporary break.
- 中断ちゅうだんnoun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbThe closest general word for interruption of something in progress: a meeting, broadcast, or piece of work is broken off mid-course, often with the expectation of resuming.
- 不通ふつうnounInterruption of service along a route or line: roads, railways, or telephone connections are cut so that traffic and communication cannot get through.
- 途絶とぜつnoun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbA lapse or cessation in something that had been continuing, such as news, correspondence, or supplies: the flow simply stops for a time rather than being deliberately halted.
- 間断かんだんnounCovers the pause sense: a break in time within continuous activity. It is really a word for gaps in an unbroken flow, and is seldom the word you want for a standalone 'interruption'.
Use 中断 for an activity broken off in progress, 中止 for calling something off, 不通 for cut transport or communication, 途絶 for a lapse in something continuous, and 間断 for a pause within unbroken activity.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
- 中止ちゅうしinterruption
- 中断ちゅうだんinterruption
- 不通ふつうsuspension
- 途絶とぜつstoppage
- 間断かんだんbreak in time
- 邪魔じゃまhindrance
- 妨害ぼうがいobstruction
- わりこみqueue jumping
- 茶々ちゃちゃinterruption (e.g. of a conversation)
- 横槍よこやりinterruption
- 断線だんせんdisconnection
- 途切れとぎれbreak
- 途絶えとだえpause
- 停止ていしceasing (movement, activity, etc.)
- 切れ目きれめpause
- 中絶ちゅうぜつdiscontinuance
- 見合わせみあわせpostponement
See also
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