邪魔

• Reading: じゃま
• Romaji: jama
• Kanji breakdown: 邪 (ja) — wicked, evil; 魔 (ma) — demon, evil spirit
• Pronunciation: /dʑa.ma/

Meaning

Hindrance; obstruction; nuisance. Something or someone that gets in the way.

Functions as a noun, na-adjective, and する verb. 邪魔する means to disturb or interfere. お邪魔します is a polite phrase said when entering someone's home, literally meaning 'I'm intruding.' Extremely common in everyday Japanese conversation.

Examples

1. お邪魔します。今日はお招きありがとうございます。 Pardon the intrusion. Thank you for inviting me today.
2. 勉強しているときに邪魔しないでください。 Please don't disturb me when I'm studying.
3. この荷物が邪魔で通れません。 This luggage is in the way and I can't get through.

Usage Guide

Context: visiting homes, daily life, requests

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Originally a Buddhist term. 邪 (evil, wicked) and 魔 (demon) together meant an evil spirit that obstructs Buddhist practice. Over time, the meaning softened to general hindrance or disturbance.

Cultural Context

Era: Pre-modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal