Translation guide
The English verb 'disrupt' covers a range of meanings from physically breaking continuity to causing disorder or interruption. This guide organizes Japanese expressions by the intended effect: breaking flow, disturbing peace, interfering with events, and causing upheaval.
To break the smooth progress of an activity, process, or system, often temporarily.
General verb for hindering or obstructing progress. Works for both physical and abstract interruptions.
The noise disrupted my concentration.
Bad weather is disrupting traffic.
To suspend or cut off an ongoing activity. Often used for meetings, broadcasts, or services.
The broadcast was disrupted by a power outage.
To physically block or cut off, like a path, view, or signal. Can also mean interrupting someone speaking.
The new building disrupts the view.
To upset the normal calm or functioning of a place, group, or situation.
To disturb or throw into disorder. Common for disrupting harmony, rhythm, or public order.
His single remark disrupted the atmosphere.
To cause confusion or chaos. Emphasizes the resulting disorder rather than the act of interruption.
To stir up and disturb, often used for emotional states or group dynamics. More vivid than 乱す.
To prevent an event from proceeding normally, often through deliberate action.
To obstruct or interfere, often with a nuance of deliberate sabotage. Used for disrupting meetings, events, or communications.
Protesters disrupted the meeting.
Communication was disrupted by jamming.
To bother or get in the way. Casual and common for everyday interruptions.
To radically alter an industry, system, or way of life, often through innovation.
To reform or revolutionize. Used for disruptive innovation that reshapes a field.
The technology disrupted the industry.
To overturn or upend established norms or systems. Stronger than 変革する, implies destruction of the old order.
Borrowed business term for 'disruptive innovation'. Used in tech/business contexts.
妨げる is a general verb for hindering or obstructing, often unintentional. 妨害する implies deliberate interference or sabotage, and is stronger.
English 'disrupt' is often used in business/tech contexts where Japanese prefers specific terms like 変革する or 破壊的イノベーション. Using 妨害する in those cases would sound like malicious sabotage.
The disturbance disrupted the peace.
The announcement disrupted the market.
Her arrival disrupted the team's unity.
The toy noise disrupted my studying.
The invention disrupted conventional wisdom.
Disruptive innovation changes the market.