障害

• Reading: しょうがい
• Romaji: shougai
• Kanji breakdown: 障 (shou) — to hinder, screen; 害 (gai) — harm, damage
• Pronunciation: /ɕoː.ga.i/

Meaning

Obstacle; impediment; disability. Something that hinders progress or function.

A する verb in some contexts (障害する — to obstruct, though less common). Has three main uses: physical/mental disability (障害者 — person with a disability), obstacles or barriers (障害を乗り越える — to overcome obstacles), and system failures in IT (システム障害 — system outage). Sensitivity is needed when using this word regarding disability.

Examples

1. 障害を乗り越えて夢を実現した。 He overcame obstacles and achieved his dream.
2. システム障害が発生してサービスが止まった。 A system outage occurred and the service went down.
3. 障害のある人にも使いやすい設計が大切だ。 It's important to design things that are easy to use for people with disabilities.

Usage Guide

Context: medical, technology, personal growth

Tone: serious

Origin & History

Compound of 障 (shou, to hinder/screen) and 害 (gai, harm/damage). Literally 'hindering harm' — something that blocks and causes difficulty.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal