差さし障さわる

さ

し

さ

わ

る

Meanings

1

godan verb (-ru), intransitive verb

hinder; obstruct; adversely affect

Used when something causes trouble or interferes with a plan, situation, or relationship. Often appears in negative forms like 差し障りがある or 差し障りのない.

彼かれの一ひと言ことが交こう渉しょうに差さし障さわった。
His one remark hindered the negotiations.
差さし障

さわ

り

の

ない

話わ

題だい

を

選えら

ん

で

ください

。

Please choose a topic that won't cause any trouble.

Written forms

差さし障さわるUsage19%
Standard kanji spelling.
さしさわるUsage67%
Kana spelling; used when avoiding kanji or for clarity.
さし障さわるUsage15%
Mixed kana-kanji spelling; less common but still encountered.

Kanji

差distinction, difference, variation
障hinder, hurt, harm

Similar words

妨さまたげる
妨げる is a transitive verb meaning to actively obstruct or prevent something. 差し障る is intransitive and focuses on the negative effect or trouble caused, often unintentionally.
支し障しょう
支障 is a noun meaning obstacle or hindrance. 差し障る is the verb form expressing that something becomes an obstacle or causes trouble.

Etymology

Compound of 差し (prefix adding emphasis or direction) and 障る (to hinder, to harm). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the combination has been used since at least the Edo period to mean 'to cause trouble or interference'.