阻止・沮止|そしsoshi[1]atamadaka (head-high)
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Which spelling to use
阻止阻止, written entirely in kanji, is the most common form; beginners should use it in writing.
沮止沮止, also written entirely in kanji, is rarely used, so beginners will seldom encounter it and should choose 阻止 instead.
Definitions
- noun, suru verb, transitive verbobstruction; prevention; hindrance; check; blocking; stopping
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 阻止する（そしする） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 阻止します（そしします） |
| Negative (nai) | 阻止しない（そししない） |
| polite (masen) | 阻止しません（そししません） |
| classical zu / nu | 阻止せず・阻止せぬ（そしせず・そしせぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 阻止した（そしした） |
| polite (mashita) | 阻止しました（そししました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 阻止しなかった（そししなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 阻止しませんでした（そししませんでした） |
| Te form | 阻止して（そしして） |
| Potential | 阻止できる（そしできる） |
| Passive | 阻止される（そしされる） |
| Causative | 阻止させる（そしさせる） |
| Causative passive | 阻止させられる（そしさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 阻止すれば（そしすれば） |
| tara | 阻止したら（そししたら） |
| Volitional | 阻止しよう（そししよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 阻止しましょう（そししましょう） |
| Imperative | 阻止しろ（そししろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym阻害そがいWrittenWritten/formal prose. Hinders development or normal functioning, as in 「成長を阻害する」, with a nuance of causing damage; 「阻止」 blocks something so it cannot happen.
- Synonym阻むはばむWrittenWritten/formal prose. A native-Japanese verb meaning to block someone's way or thwart them, as in 「行く手を阻む」; 「阻止」 is a Sino-Japanese word, usually as 「阻止する」.
- Synonym妨害ぼうがいNeutralNeutral. Means obstructing or interfering, as in 「業務妨害」; 「阻止」 focuses on stopping an action so it cannot be carried out.
- Synonym妨げるさまたげるNeutralNeutral. A native verb meaning to hinder or hold up progress; 「阻止」 is about keeping something from happening at all, used as 「阻止する」.
- Synonym防止ぼうしNeutralNeutral. Preventing something bad from occurring, as in 「事故防止」—preventive in nuance; 「阻止」 is about blocking a specific action.
- Synonym封じるふうじるNeutralNeutral. Means sealing off, leaving an action or speech powerless, as in 「動きを封じる」; 「阻止」 focuses on blocking an action.
- SynonymストップNeutralA loanword for stopping or calling something off; colloquial, whereas 「阻止」 leans formal.
- Synonym防ぐふせぐNeutralNeutral. Defending against or preventing something, as in 「事故を防ぐ」; 「阻止」 targets a concrete action and works both in advance and on the spot.
- Synonym制止せいしNeutralNeutral. Stopping someone's words or actions on the spot; 「阻止」 works both beforehand and on the spot, aiming to keep the act from happening.
- Synonym遮るさえぎるNeutralNeutral. Blocking a view or interrupting someone mid-sentence; 「阻止」 is about stopping an action.
- Synonym抑止よくしWrittenWritten/formal prose. Deterrence, as in 「犯罪を抑止する」 or 「抑止力」; 「阻止」 focuses on blocking a concrete action.
- Synonym止めるとめるNeutralNeutral. The everyday word for making something stop; 「阻止」 leans formal.
- Synonym留めるとどめるNeutralSame word as the previous entry, 「止める」; 「留める」 and 「停める」 are alternative spellings, likewise more colloquial than 「阻止」.
- Synonym封ずるふうずるWrittenWritten/formal prose. A more literary variant of 「封じる」, rare today; in everyday speech use 「封じる」, and 「阻止」 is also more common.
- Related遮断しゃだんNeutralNeutral. Cutting off or isolating, as in 「遮断機」; 「阻止」 is about blocking an action.
- RelatedブレーキNeutralNeutral. A loanword for brakes, also used figuratively for curbing something; 「阻止」 is more formal.
- Related邪魔じゃまNeutralNeutral. Being in the way or disturbing someone; 「阻止」 is about stopping an action.
- Related食い止めるくいとめるNeutralNeutral. Checking the spread of something bad, as in 「被害を食い止める」; 「阻止」 centers on holding back an action.
- Related差し支えるさしつかえるNeutralNeutral. Intransitive: a situation causes inconvenience or interference, as in 「仕事に差し支える」; 「阻止」 is transitive, blocking something.
- Related封鎖ふうさNeutralNeutral. Blockading roads, ports and the like; 「阻止」 is about blocking an action.
- Related押しとどめるおしとどめるNeutralNeutral. Physically holding back an impulse or a crowd; 「阻止」 is more formal and centers on stopping the action.
- Related邪魔立てじゃまだてNeutralNeutral. Deliberately sabotaging or getting in someone's way, with a negative tinge; 「阻止」 is neutral.
- Related差し障るさしさわるNeutralNeutral. Intransitive: to adversely affect something, as in 「健康に差し障る」; 「阻止」 is transitive, blocking something outright.
- Related立ちふさがるたちふさがるNeutralNeutral. Standing in the way and blocking someone's path; 「阻止」 is more abstract and formal.
- Antonym促進そくしんNeutralAntonym. Promoting or speeding something up, the opposite of 「阻止」, which keeps something from happening.
- Antonym助長じょちょうWrittenAntonym, written/formal prose. Fostering or fanning something on, the opposite of 「阻止」.
Use 「阻止する」 to block an action or situation so it cannot happen, as in 「侵入を阻止する」. For hindering development or progress, 「阻害」 and 「妨げる」 fit better; for preventing something bad from occurring, 「防止」 or 「防ぐ」; for stopping someone on the spot, 「制止」; for checking a spread, 「食い止める」. Everyday 'stop' is 「止める」; 「ストップ」 is colloquial. Also, 「封じる」 seals off movement or speech, 「封鎖」 blockades, 「遮断」 cuts off, 「遮る」 blocks view or speech, 「抑止」 deters (written), 「阻む」 blocks the way (written). Antonyms: 「促進」, 「助長」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
