Skip to content
Kotomora

妨

disturb, prevent, hamper, obstruct

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · secondary schoolFrequencyTop 2,000Strokes7

Readings

On'yomi

  • ボウ

Kun'yomi

  • さまた.げる

Meaning

妨 centers on interference that blocks or slows something: disturbing a process, preventing an action, or obstructing progress.

Most common words using 妨

20 of 30
  • 妨害ぼうがい
    N1

    obstruction; hindrance; blocking; disturbance; interference; interruption; sabotage; jamming (a signal)

  • 妨げさまたげ

    obstruction; hindrance

  • 妨げるさまたげる
    N2

    to disturb; to prevent; to obstruct; to hinder

  • サービスの妨害サービスのぼうがい

    denial of service

  • サービス妨害攻撃サービスぼうがいこうげき

    denial of service attack

  • 交通妨害こうつうぼうがい

    traffic obstruction

  • 公務執行妨害こうむしっこうぼうがい

    interference with a public servant in the execution of his or her duties

  • 公務執行妨害罪こうむしっこうぼうがいざい

    obstructing the discharge of official duties; hindering a government official in the execution of his duties

  • 公妨こうぼう

    interference with a public servant in the execution of his or her duties

  • 公的不法妨害こうてきふほうぼうがい

    public nuisance

  • 司法妨害しほうぼうがい

    obstruction of justice

  • 営業妨害えいぎょうぼうがい

    obstruction of business; interference with business

  • 妨害工作ぼうがいこうさく

    sabotage

  • 妨害工作員ぼうがいこうさくいん

    saboteur

  • 妨害戦術ぼうがいせんじゅつ

    obstructive tactics; harassing tactics

  • 妨害放送ぼうがいほうそう

    radio jamming

  • 妨害機ぼうがいき

    jammer (e.g. radio signals)

  • 妨害物ぼうがいぶつ

    obstacle

  • 妨害罪ぼうがいざい

    (crime of) obstruction; obstruction charge

  • 妨害行為ぼうがいこうい

    interference; obstruction; sabotage

Explore all words using 妨 →

Study

Etymology

妨 combines 女 (woman) with 方, which likely contributes the sound. The exact historical reason for the woman component is uncertain, but the character has long carried the sense of hindering or obstructing.

Meaning mnemonic

A woman 女 stands beside a direction 方, blocking the way. She is disturbing the path and preventing you from passing.

Reading mnemonic

For ボウ, imagine a bow (as in bow and arrow) being used to obstruct a path: bow -> ボウ, and the woman uses it to hamper your progress.