ブロック
Meaning: To block someone on social media or messaging apps, preventing them from contacting you or seeing your content.
ブロック (from English 'block') is the standard term for blocking someone on any social platform. In Japanese internet culture, blocking carries significant social weight — it is seen as a definitive statement of cutting ties. 'ブロックされた' (I was blocked) is a dramatic event in online relationships. Some users differentiate between ブロック (hard block, completely severing connection) and ミュート (soft block, just hiding posts). ブロ解 (buro-kai, block-then-unblock) is a technique to force-unfollow someone without directly unfollowing them.
Examples
- しつこいからもうブロックした。 太烦了直接拉黑了。Era tan pesado que lo bloqueé directamente.계속 귀찮게 해서 그냥 차단했어.
- 推しにブロックされたら立ち直れない。 要是被推拉黑了我肯定缓不过来。Si mi oshi me bloqueara, no lo superaría.최애한테 차단당하면 회복 못 해.
- ブロックするほどじゃないけどミュートはした。 还没到拉黑的程度,但设置了屏蔽。No es como para bloquearlo, pero sí lo he silenciado.차단할 정도는 아닌데 뮤트는 했어.
Pronunciation
/bu.ro.kku/
Usage Guide
Context: social media, messaging, online discussion
Tone: decisive, sometimes dramatic
✓ Do Say
- 変なアカウントはすぐブロックした方がいいよ。 (You should block suspicious accounts right away.)可疑的账号应该马上拉黑。Deberías bloquear las cuentas sospechosas enseguida.이상한 계정은 바로 차단하는 게 좋아. (수상한 계정은 즉시 차단해.)
- ブロ解って知ってる? (Do you know about the block-unblock technique?)你知道先拉黑再取消拉黑这种操作吗?¿Conoces la técnica de bloquear y desbloquear?부로카이 알아? (차단 후 해제 기법 알아?)
✗ Don't Say
- リアルの関係で「ブロックした」と言う (Don't say you 'blocked' someone in real-life contexts — it's an online-specific term)不要在现实关系中说'拉黑了'——这是网络专用术语No digas que has 'bloqueado' a alguien en la vida real: es un término exclusivo del ámbito digital.실제 관계에서 '부록쿠했다'라고 하지 마 — 온라인 전용 용어야 (현실 관계에서는 '차단했다'는 표현을 쓰지 마)
Common Mistakes
- Not knowing ブロ解 (buro-kai) — the technique of blocking then unblocking to force-remove a follower
- Using ブロック when ミュート would be more appropriate — blocking is a much stronger action in Japanese online culture
Origin & History
From English 'block.' Adopted directly into Japanese as social media platforms introduced blocking features. The term became emotionally charged in Japanese internet culture where online relationships carry significant weight.
Cultural Context
Era: 2010s, with social media mainstream adoption
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
Regional notes: Used across Japan. Blocking carries more dramatic weight in Japanese internet culture compared to Western social media.
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