# 妨 prevent

女 (woman) + 方 (direction / method / person) Same-ON
★★☆☆☆
7 strokes

## Onyomi

BOU |

## Mnemonic

| The stern woman prevents you from going in the direction of the BOWLing alley.

## Kunyomi

さまた*げる | obstruct / hamper. Unlike the related words 阻む (habamu) and 防ぐ (fusegu）, 妨げる carries the nuance of 'interrupt' or 'disrupt', like 'The guys at the next table are hampering our conversation,' or 'The corporate extortionist kept interrupting the shareholders' meeting.' ★☆☆☆☆

## Jukugo

妨害(ぼうがい) | interference ★★☆☆☆ 妨 (prevent) + 害 (damage) = 妨害 (interference) interference - a person interferes with you. (妨害 is used with people, while the related term 阻害（そがい） is used about objects）

## Lookalikes

| Meaning | Hint | Radical
--- | --- | --- | ---
妨 | prevent | GIRL | 女
訪 | formal visit | TALK | 言
坊 | boy / monk | GROUND | 土
放 | release | DIRECTOR |
防 | ward off | TOWN |

You prevent the GIRL to go,
From visiting and TALKING to her beau.
(because you're jealous)

The boy stands on the GROUND
Until the DIRECTOR releases the hounds.
and then he's warded away from that TOWN.

## Synonyms

hinder, obstruct, put a stop to. 阻む 阻止する 障る 防ぐ 妨げる
obstacle 阻害 妨害 支障 足手まとい