ボトルネック
의미: Bottleneck — a person, process, or factor that slows down overall progress or blocks a project.
A common loanword used in Japanese business settings to identify what's holding things up. Unlike the more neutral Japanese expression 障害 (obstacle), ボトルネック specifically implies a narrowing of flow — one slow point affecting the entire system. It's frequently used in meetings, retrospectives, and project reviews. When applied to a person, it can be indirect criticism disguised as process analysis.
예문
- このプロジェクトのボトルネックは承認プロセスだと思う。 我觉得这个项目的瓶颈是审批流程。Creo que el cuello de botella de este proyecto es el proceso de aprobación.이 프로젝트의 병목은 승인 프로세스인 것 같아.
- ボトルネックを解消しないと、いつまでたってもローンチできないよ。 不解决瓶颈问题，项目永远没法上线。Si no eliminamos el cuello de botella, nunca vamos a poder lanzar.병목을 해소하지 않으면 언제까지고 런칭할 수 없어.
- 正直、部長がボトルネックになってるんだけど、言えないよね。 说实话，瓶颈就是部长本人，但没法直说。Sinceramente, el director es el cuello de botella, pero nadie se atreve a decirlo.솔직히 부장이 병목인데, 말할 수 없잖아.
발음
/bo.to.ɾu.nek.ku/
사용 가이드
맥락: business meetings, project management, workplace
어조: analytical, problem-solving
✓ 올바른 표현
- どこがボトルネックになってるか洗い出そう。 (Let's identify where the bottleneck is.)我们来梳理一下瓶颈在哪里。（让我们找出瓶颈在什么地方。）Identifiquemos dónde está el cuello de botella.어디가 병목인지 파악해 보자. (병목 지점이 어디인지 찾아내자는 뜻.)
- ボトルネック解消するために人員追加を提案します。 (I propose adding staff to resolve the bottleneck.)为了消除瓶颈，我建议增加人手。（我提议增加人员来解决瓶颈问题。）Propongo añadir personal para resolver el cuello de botella.병목 해소를 위해 인원 추가를 제안합니다. (병목 현상을 해결하기 위해 인력 보충을 건의한다는 뜻.)
✗ 잘못된 표현
- 「あなたがボトルネックです」と個人を名指しするのは避ける (Avoid directly saying 'you are the bottleneck' — focus on the process, not the person)避免直接指着某人说'你就是瓶颈'——应该聚焦于流程而不是个人Evita decir directamente «tú eres el cuello de botella» — céntrate en el proceso, no en la persona.'당신이 병목입니다'라고 개인을 지목하는 것은 피한다 — 사람이 아닌 프로세스에 초점을 맞출 것
흔한 실수
- Using ボトルネック too casually to describe minor delays — it specifically refers to a systemic constraint
- Directly calling a person the ボトルネック in front of others — this is seen as very confrontational in Japanese culture
기원과 역사
Direct loanword from English 'bottleneck.' Entered Japanese business vocabulary through manufacturing (Toyota Production System) and IT project management terminology.
문화적 배경
Era: Long-standing in manufacturing, broader business adoption from 2000s
Generation: All working-age adults
Social background: Office workers, engineers, project managers
Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. Deeply connected to Japan's manufacturing heritage and continuous improvement culture.
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