遮る

• Reading: さえぎる
• Romaji: saegiru
• Kanji breakdown: 遮 (sha/saegi) — block, obstruct, intercept
• Pronunciation: /sa.e.ɡi.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To block; to obstruct; to intercept; to interrupt. Used for blocking light, views, paths, or speech.

A Group 1 (godan) transitive verb meaning to physically or verbally cut something off. Can block light (光を遮る), views (視界を遮る), someone's path (行く手を遮る), or speech (言葉を遮る). It implies a deliberate or forceful obstruction.

Examples

1. 高いビルが日光を遮っている。 The tall buildings are blocking the sunlight.
2. 彼は私の話を遮って自分の意見を言い始めた。 He interrupted me mid-sentence and started sharing his own opinion.
3. カーテンで外からの視線を遮った。 I used the curtain to block the view from outside.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, narrative, conversation

Tone: forceful

Origin & History

From 遮 (to block, to intercept), combining 辶 (road radical) with 庶 (many, common). The idea is of blocking passage on a road, preventing the many from passing through.

Cultural Context

Era: Classical

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal