障しょう壁へき

しょ

う

へ

き

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

noun

enclosing wall; fence; barrier (physical)

Refers to a physical wall, fence, or barrier that encloses or separates an area. Often used in architectural or historical contexts.

城しろの周まわりには高たかい障しょう壁へきが築きずかれていた。
A high enclosing wall was built around the castle.
工こう

事じ

現げん

場ば

の

障しょう

壁へき

に

注ちゅう

意い

し

て

ください

。

Please be careful of the barrier at the construction site.

2

noun

obstacle; barrier (figurative); hurdle

Used for abstract obstacles or impediments, such as social, economic, or communication barriers.

言こと葉ばの障しょう壁へきが国こく際さい交こう流りゅうの妨さまたげになる。
Language barriers hinder international exchange.
両りょう者しゃの間あいだには大おおきな心しん理り的てき障しょう壁へきがある。
There is a huge psychological barrier between the two parties.

Written forms

障しょう壁へきUsage97%
Standard modern spelling for both physical and figurative barriers.
牆しょう壁へきUsage3%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; 牆 is a variant of 障.
墻しょう壁へきUsage<1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form; 墻 is a variant of 障.

Kanji

障hinder, hurt, harm
壁wall, lining (stomach), fence
牆fence, hedge, wall
墻

Similar words

壁かべ
壁 is a general word for 'wall', while 障壁 emphasizes the function of blocking or separating, and is more common in figurative uses.
障しょう害がい
障害 is a broader term for 'obstacle' or 'hindrance', often used for physical or mental disabilities, whereas 障壁 is specifically a barrier that divides or blocks.

Etymology

Compound of 障 (しょう, 'to block, hinder') and 壁 (へき, 'wall'). The kanji 障 suggests obstruction, giving the word its dual physical and figurative sense of a barrier.

fence, hedge