立ちはだかる・立ち開かる|たちはだかるtachihadakaru[5]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
立ちはだかる立ちはだかる is the more common written form, used when something blocks the way or obstructs progress, including the image of standing with legs spread out.
立ち開かる立ち開かる is a less common written form for blocking the way or obstructing progress; its kanji spelling is irregular, so learners should not choose it by default.
Definitions
- godan verb, intransitive verbto stand in the way (esp. with legs spread out); to block the way
- godan verb, intransitive verbto stand in the way (e.g. of progress); to obstruct
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 立ちはだかる（たちはだかる） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 立ちはだかります（たちはだかります） |
| Negative (nai) | 立ちはだからない（たちはだからない） |
| polite (masen) | 立ちはだかりません（たちはだかりません） |
| classical zu / nu | 立ちはだからず・立ちはだからぬ（たちはだからず・たちはだからぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 立ちはだかった（たちはだかった） |
| polite (mashita) | 立ちはだかりました（たちはだかりました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 立ちはだからなかった（たちはだからなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 立ちはだかりませんでした（たちはだかりませんでした） |
| Te form | 立ちはだかって（たちはだかって） |
| Potential | 立ちはだかれる（たちはだかれる） |
| Passive | 立ちはだかられる（たちはだかられる） |
| Causative | 立ちはだからせる（たちはだからせる） |
| Causative passive | 立ちはだからせられる・立ちはだからされる（たちはだからせられる・たちはだからされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 立ちはだかれば（たちはだかれば） |
| tara | 立ちはだかったら（たちはだかったら） |
| Volitional | 立ちはだかろう（たちはだかろう） |
| polite (mashou) | 立ちはだかりましょう（たちはだかりましょう） |
| Imperative | 立ちはだかれ（たちはだかれ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym阻むはばむWrittenWritten/formal prose for stopping someone from advancing or reaching their goal, as in 「行く手を阻む」.
- Synonym遮るさえぎるNeutralBlocks or shuts out a view or light, and can mean interrupting someone's speech; 「立ちはだかる」 is about standing in front of someone.
- Synonym妨げるさまたげるNeutralHinders something from going ahead, as in 「睡眠を妨げる」; it carries no image of physically standing in the way.
- Synonym立ちふさがるたちふさがるNeutralAlmost the same as 「立ちはだかる」 — stands in front blocking the way, but with less of the legs-spread image.
- Related阻害そがいWrittenWritten/formal prose for holding back development or growth, as in 「成長を阻害する」; leans abstract, unlike the physical image of the headword.
- Related阻止そしWrittenWritten/formal prose for preventing something from happening, as in 「侵入を阻止」; 「立ちはだかる」 is about blocking the way itself.
- Related妨害ぼうがいNeutralDeliberate obstruction or interference, as in 「業務妨害」; standing in the way with 「立ちはだかる」 is not necessarily intentional.
- Related邪魔じゃまNeutralThe most general word for being in the way or being a nuisance; 「立ちはだかる」 keeps the vivid image of standing right in front.
- Related遮断しゃだんWrittenWritten/formal prose for cutting off electricity, traffic or communications, as in 「遮断機」; a different idea from blocking someone's path.
- Related邪魔立てじゃまだてCasualColloquial for deliberately getting in someone's way; rare, and 「邪魔をする」 is the usual phrase.
- Related塞くせくWrittenWritten/formal prose for damming up a stream; often appears as 「堰き止める」 rather than on its own.
- Antonym立ち退くたちのくNeutralAntonym: to leave, evacuate or move out — the opposite of standing in place and blocking the way.
Use 「立ちはだかる」 for standing in the way with legs spread, and figuratively for a difficulty lying across one's path, as in 「難問が立ちはだかる」. In written/formal prose, say 「阻む」; for the general sense of being in the way or a nuisance, 「邪魔」 is the everyday word.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
See also
