過干渉

• Reading: かかんしょう
• Romaji: kakansho
• Kanji breakdown: 過 (ka) — excess, over, surpass; 干 (kan) — meddle, interfere; 渉 (shō) — wade, involve oneself
• Pronunciation: /ka.kan.ɕoː/

Meaning

Overintervention; excessive meddling; being overbearing in another's affairs, especially in a parent-child or professional context.

Composed of 過 (excessive/beyond the proper degree) and 干渉 (intervention/interference). Widely used in child psychology, family counselling, and social commentary, particularly regarding parental behaviour. 過干渉な親 (overbearing parents) is a common collocation. Distinguished from 干渉 (normal interference) by its excessive, damaging nature. The opposite is 放任 (neglect/laissez-faire). Distinct from 過保護 in that 過干渉 emphasises excessive meddling rather than excessive shielding.

Examples

1. 子どもの自立を妨げる過干渉な育て方は、長期的に見て成長を阻むと言われている。 An overbearing parenting style that hinders a child's independence is said to impede growth in the long term.
2. 上司の過干渉に悩む社員が増え、職場環境の改善が急務となっている。 The number of employees troubled by their supervisor's excessive meddling is increasing, making improvement of the workplace environment an urgent matter.
3. 過干渉と適切なサポートの境界線を見極めることは、親として最も難しい課題の一つだ。 Discerning the boundary between overintervention and appropriate support is one of the most difficult challenges of being a parent.

Usage Guide

Context: family, parenting, society, relationships, psychology

Tone: critical

Origin & History

過 (ka, excess/over) + 干渉 (kanshō, interference/intervention, from 干 meaning to meddle and 渉 meaning to wade into). A modern compound reflecting psychological and social scientific vocabulary.

Cultural Context

Era: Contemporary

Generation: Adults

Social background: General