邪魔

What it means

邪魔 means something or someone that blocks progress or interferes with activities, functioning as a hindrance in physical spaces or in plans.

Main meanings

• 1) Physical obstruction or obstacle blocking a path or space
• 2) Interference that prevents action or completion of a task
• 3) Nuisance or annoyance in social or everyday situations

How to use it

• Used as a noun or na-adjective to describe something that is in the way in everyday Japanese
• As a verb phrase 邪魔をする indicates active hindrance; 邪魔になる expresses that something becomes a hindrance
• In polite speech邪魔です and casual邪魔だ are common; the set phrase お邪魔します is used when politely entering someone’s space