障壁・牆壁・墻壁|しょうへきshouheki[0]heiban (flat)

1. nounenclosing wall; boundary fence
2. nounobstacle; barrier
   我々われわれは社会的しゃかいてき障壁しょうへきを取り壊とりこわすために、懸命けんめいに努力どりょくしなければならない。↗

   We must work hard to break down social barriers.

• SynonymバリアNeutralLoanword for a barrier — a protective shield, or an obstacle as in 「バリアフリー」 (free of barriers to getting around); 「障壁」 is more written and mostly figurative.
• Synonym壁かべNeutralThe everyday word for a wall, also used figuratively for difficulties as in 「壁にぶつかる」; by far the most common. 「障壁」 is more written, for partitions or barriers.
• Synonym塀へいNeutralA wall enclosing a house or plot of land; 「障壁」 instead suggests a partition or, figuratively, an obstacle.
• SynonymフェンスCasualColloquial loanword for a fence; 「障壁」 is mostly a figurative barrier.
• Synonym隔壁かくへきWrittenWritten word for a partition wall or bulkhead; 「障壁」 can also mean a figurative obstacle.
• Related垣かきWrittenWritten word for a hedge or fence; 「障壁」 leans toward the figurative sense of obstacle.
• Related垣根かきねNeutralAn everyday word for a hedge, also figuratively a divide or limit as in 「垣根を越える」; 「障壁」 is more written and mostly means a barrier.
• Related柵さくNeutralA fence or railing; 「障壁」 leans toward the figurative sense of obstacle.
• Related囲いかこいNeutralAn everyday word for an enclosure or a fenced-off area; 「障壁」 emphasizes blocking things off.
• Related防壁ぼうへきWrittenWritten word for a defensive wall, as in 「防火壁」; 「障壁」 leans toward the figurative sense of obstacle.
• Related塁壁るいへきWrittenWritten word for a rampart or fortress wall; 「障壁」 leans toward the figurative sense of obstacle.
• Related垣牆えんしょうWrittenRare written word for a hedge or fence; in everyday speech say 「垣根」.
• Related堵とWrittenRare written word for a wall or fence, mostly seen in 「安堵」; not used on its own in daily speech.
• Antonym開口かいこうWrittenWritten word for an opening or aperture; the opposite of the blocking sense of 「障壁」.
• Antonym通路つうろNeutralA passage or pathway; the opposite of the blocking 「障壁」.

Use 「障壁」 for a wall that separates or shuts something out, or figuratively for a barrier to exchange, as in 「言語の障壁」「関税障壁」. For an ordinary wall say 「壁」, for a wall around a house or plot 「塀」, for a fence 「柵」 or 「フェンス」, and for a barrier or shield 「バリア」. 「垣根」 (also a figurative divide) and 「囲い」 are everyday words; 「隔壁」「防壁」「塁壁」「垣」 are written, 「垣牆」「堵」 rare. Antonyms: 「開口」「通路」.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

1. 空間くうかんを隔へだてるための壁かべ。仕切しきり。
2. 転てんじて邪魔じゃまなもの。妨さまたげ。