つかえる

ichidan verb, intransitive verb

get stuck; jam; clog

Physical obstruction: something becomes stuck in a narrow passage, pipe, throat, etc., and cannot move smoothly.

• パイプにゴミがつかえて水みずが流ながれない。

  The pipe is clogged with debris and the water won't flow.

• 魚さかなの骨ほねがのどにつかえた。

  A fish bone got stuck in my throat.

ichidan verb, intransitive verb

be busy; be occupied; be unavailable

A person or a resource (phone line, seat, schedule) is tied up and cannot be used or accessed.

• 今いま、手てがつかえていて手て伝つだえません。

  I'm tied up right now and can't help.

• 電でん話わがつかえていてつながらない。

  The line is busy and I can't get through.

ichidan verb, intransitive verb

pile up; back up (of work)

Work, tasks, or duties accumulate and remain undone, causing a backlog.

• 仕し事ごとがつかえていて休やすめない。

  Work has piled up and I can't take a break.

ichidan verb, intransitive verb

stumble over words; stammer; hesitate in speech

Words get caught in one's throat; speech halts or becomes hesitant, often from nervousness or emotion.

• 緊きん張ちょうして言こと葉ばがつかえた。

  I was so nervous that I stumbled over my words.

ichidan verb, intransitive verb

feel a lump in one's throat; feel tightness in the chest

A sensation of pressure or blockage in the chest or throat due to strong emotion (grief, anxiety) or physical discomfort; often used with 胸 or のど.

See also: つかえる

• 悲かなしみで胸むねがつかえた。

  My chest felt tight with grief.