noun
stumbling; tripping
Physical act of tripping or stumbling, often over an obstacle.
石につまずきをして転んだ。
I tripped over a stone and fell.
Figurative use for a mistake, failure, or obstacle in a plan or life; often used in phrases like つまずきを経験する.
事業のつまずきから学ぶことは多い。
There is much to learn from business setbacks.
失敗 is a general term for failure or mistake, while つまずき implies a stumble or obstacle that may be overcome.
挫折 refers to a more serious frustration or breakdown of plans, whereas つまずき is a milder setback or misstep.
Derived from the verb つまずく (to stumble). The kanji 躓 is a non-jōyō character meaning 'stumble'.