Explore Words Kanji Grammar Guides

Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

Get the Kotomora apps for iOS and Android.

Explore Words Kanji Grammar Guides About Support Privacy

Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.

差し支え (sashitsukae) Japanese meaning: hindrance | Kotomora

差さし支つかえ

さ

し

つ

か

え

Common word›JLPTN2›Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

hindrance; impediment; obstacle

Refers to something that prevents or delays an action; often used in polite expressions like 差し支えなければ (if it's not inconvenient).

差さし支つかえなければ、

明日あした

お

会あ

い

でき

ませ

ん

か

。

If it's not inconvenient, could we meet tomorrow?

急きゅうな用よう事じができて、仕し事ごとに差さし支つかえが出でた。

An urgent matter came up and it interfered with my work.

Usage patterns

〈事こと〉に差さし支つかえがあるthere is a problem/obstacle affecting something
夜よ更ふかしは明日あしたの仕し事ごとに差さし支つかえがある。
Staying up late will cause problems for tomorrow's work.
〈事こと〉の差さし支つかえになるto become a hindrance to something
スマホの使つかいすぎは勉べん強きょうの差さし支つかえになる。
Overusing your smartphone becomes a hindrance to studying.

Expressions

差さし支つかえなければif it's alright; if you don't mind; if it's convenient

Kanji

差distinction, difference, variation
支branch, support, sustain
閊to be obstructed, to be blocked, (kokuji)

Related words

支し障しょう
支障 is more formal and often used in official or legal contexts, while 差し支え is the everyday word for a scheduling or personal inconvenience.
邪じゃ魔まN4
邪魔 implies a physical or direct obstruction, often with a nuance of annoyance, whereas 差し支え is more about inconvenience or scheduling conflicts.
不ふ都つ合ごうN1
不都合 focuses on something being inappropriate or improper for the situation, while 差し支え focuses on a practical obstacle preventing an action.

Don't confuse with

差さし押おさえ
差し押さえ (legal seizure of property) looks similar in writing to 差し支え (a hindrance or inconvenience), but the meanings are unrelated.
差さし替かえ
差し替え means 'replacement,' while 差し支え (similar sound) means 'hindrance' or 'objection,' so the two are easily confused despite unrelated meanings.

Word family

差さし支つかえるN1
interfere; hinder; be hindered; have difficulty
差さし支つかえないN2
no objection; allowable; all right

Written forms

差さし支つかえUsage50%
Standard kanji spelling, commonly used in formal and business contexts.
さしつかえUsage31%
差さし支つかえUsage17%
Variant without okurigana し; less common but still seen.
差さし閊つかえUsage2%
irregular kanji usage

Etymology

The noun form of 差し支える “hinder, interfere,” itself combining 差し and 支える. It denotes something that obstructs or causes inconvenience.

Irregular kanji usage with okurigana; very rare.

差さし閊つかえ

irregular kanji usage

Irregular kanji usage; 閊 is a rare character not in standard lists.