Meaning
The kanji 障 (しょう, さわ.る) represents concepts like "obstacle," "barrier," or "hindrance," and can also imply "harm" or "damage." Essentially, it describes anything that impedes progress or causes difficulty. This kanji is common in advanced Japanese and is tested at the JLPT N1 level. It is essential for grasping nuanced expressions that describe impediments and challenges, ranging from physical obstructions to abstract difficulties.
Its etymology offers interesting insights into its visual structure. The character 障 is a phono-semantic compound, formed by combining a semantic component that hints at its meaning and a phonetic component that suggests its sound. The left-hand radical is 阜 (こざとへん, koza-tohen), which originally depicted a "mound" or "hill." When this radical appears on the left side of a kanji, it often relates to terrain, borders, or barriers. The right-hand component, 章 (しょう), acts as the phonetic element, giving the kanji its on'yomi reading "ショウ." The character 章 itself means "chapter," "badge," or "pattern," and historically carried a sense of "clear demarcation" or "distinction."
When these components are combined, the meaning emerges: a "mound" or "hill" (阜) that creates a "demarcation" or "boundary" (章), thereby acting as an "obstacle" or "barrier." Picture a hill standing in the way, preventing easy passage, or marking a boundary that requires effort to cross. This visual connection to something obstructing a path or creating a division strongly reinforces the kanji's primary meanings of impediment, hindrance, and barrier. The kanji has 14 strokes. While not formally assigned an elementary school grade level, it is part of the expanded Jōyō Kanji set and is widely studied by JLPT N1 learners because of its complexity and frequent appearance in advanced vocabulary.
Readings
The kanji 障 has both on'yomi (Chinese-derived) and kun'yomi (native Japanese) readings, each used in distinct contexts to convey its various meanings related to obstruction and negative impacts.
On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings
The primary on'yomi reading for 障 is ショウ (shō). This reading is predominantly used in compound words, especially those relating to obstacles, disorders, and mechanical failures. Learning these compounds is essential for understanding its use in professional and technical contexts.
障害 (shōgai) — obstacle; impediment; barrier; disability. This is perhaps the most common compound, referring to anything that hinders progress or a physical/mental disability.
彼のチームは技術的な障害に直面した。 (His team faced technical obstacles.)
故障 (koshō) — breakdown; failure; accident; trouble. Used when machinery, equipment, or systems stop working correctly.
車が故障して、動かなくなった。 (The car broke down and stopped moving.)
支障 (shishō) — hindrance; impediment; difficulty. Often implies something that interferes with smooth operation or progress, though not necessarily a complete breakdown.
作業に支障を来す。 (To cause a hindrance to work.)
Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings
The kun'yomi readings link 障 to native Japanese verbs and nouns, often conveying meanings like hindering, negatively affecting, or causing harm. These readings offer a more direct and often nuanced way to express the kanji's core meanings in everyday language.
障る (sawa.ru) — to hinder; to impede; to affect (negatively); to be harmful. This is an intransitive verb, meaning it does not take a direct object.
仕事に障るといけないから、今日は早く帰ります。 (I'll go home early today so it doesn't interfere with work.)
体に障る (karada ni sawa.ru) — to be harmful to one's health.
障り (sawa.ri) — hindrance; impediment; adverse effect. While 触り (sawari) more commonly refers to the touch or feel of something, 障り specifically refers to a problem or impediment.
特に障りはない。 (There are no particular problems/hindrances.)
何か障りでもありましたか？ (Was there some kind of problem/hindrance?)
Common Words & Compounds
The kanji 障 appears in a wide range of compound words, particularly in fields related to health, technology, and social issues, all reflecting its core meaning of impediment or malfunction. For N1 learners, understanding these compounds is crucial for comprehending advanced texts and conversations.
Obstacles & Difficulties (Physical and Abstract)
- 障害物 (shōgaibutsu) — obstacle; impediment. Refers to physical objects that block a path or progress, often seen in races or sports.
- 障壁 (shōheki) — barrier; wall. Frequently used metaphorically for cultural, communication, or psychological barriers that divide or impede.
- 支障 (shishō) — hindrance; impediment; difficulty. Indicates something causing a minor delay or disruption to smooth operation, often used in formal contexts.
- 障子 (shōji) — paper sliding door. A traditional Japanese room divider made of a wooden frame covered with translucent paper, literally a "hindering/partitioning paper."
Malfunctions & Disorders
- 故障 (koshō) — breakdown; failure. Specifically refers to a mechanical or system malfunction, like an appliance or vehicle breaking down.
- 故障中 (koshōchū) — out of order; under repair. A common sign indicating that something is currently not functioning and being fixed.
- 精神障害 (seishin shōgai) — mental disorder; psychiatric disability. A clinical term used in the medical and social fields.
- 発達障害 (hattatsu shōgai) — developmental disorder. Refers to conditions affecting development in various areas like learning, communication, or social skills.
- 聴覚障害 (chōkaku shōgai) — hearing impairment; auditory disability.
- 視覚障害 (shikaku shōgai) — visual impairment; blindness.
- 言語障害 (gengo shōgai) — speech impediment.
Actions & Effects
- 差し障る (sashisawaru) — to interfere; to hinder; to be a hindrance. A more formal and polite expression than 障る, often used when discussing potential inconveniences or interferences.
- 無障害 (mushōgai) — barrier-free; unimpeded. Describes environments or systems designed to be accessible to all, especially those with disabilities.
Example Sentences
故障したエレベーターは修理中です。
Koshō shita erebētā wa shūri-chū desu.
The broken elevator is under repair.
彼の発言が会議の進行に支障を与えた。
Kare no hatsugen ga kaigi no shinkō ni shishō o ataeta.
His remark hindered the progress of the meeting.
健康に障るようなことはしないでください。
Kenkō ni sawaru yō na koto wa shinaide kudasai.
Please don't do anything that could harm your health.
新しい法律は高齢者に障害を引き起こす可能性がある。
Atarashii hōritsu wa kōreisha ni shōgai o hikiokosu kanōsei ga aru.
The new law might cause difficulties for the elderly.
山道には落石などの障害物が多い。
Yamamichi ni wa rakuseki nado no shōgaibutsu ga ōi.
There are many obstacles like falling rocks on the mountain path.
彼はコミュニケーションに障壁を感じている。
Kare wa komyunikēshon ni shōheki o kanjite iru.
He feels a barrier in communication.
仕事に差し障るから、今夜はもう帰ります。
Shigoto ni sashisawaru kara, kon'ya wa mō kaerimasu.
I'm going home tonight because it will interfere with my work.
音響設備に何か故障があるようです。
Onkyō setsubi ni nani ka koshō ga aru yō desu.
There seems to be some kind of malfunction with the sound equipment.
身体障害者のための新しい施設が建設された。
Shintai shōgaisha no tame no atarashii shisetsu ga kensetsu sareta.
A new facility for people with physical disabilities has been constructed.
Memory Tip
To remember 障, think of it as a barrier on a hill. The left radical, 阜 (こざとへん), means "mound" or "hill," often appearing on the left side of characters related to terrain or boundaries. The right part, 章 (しょう), is the phonetic component. You can also visualize it as something "marking" a boundary or "chapter." So, imagine a "hill" (阜) with a clear "marker" (章) on it, indicating an obstruction or a point beyond which passage is difficult. This "marked hill" becomes a clear "obstacle" or "barrier" in your mind. Alternatively, consider it a significant "chapter" (章) in a journey that presents a "hill" (阜) to climb. This symbolizes a major "hindrance" that must be overcome. This dual association can help solidify both its meaning and its on'yomi reading of ショウ.