Meaning

Primary

To Irritate

Alternatives

To Annoy, To Negatively Affect, To Be Bad For

Word Type

intransitive verb, godan verb

Explanation

This is the verb version of hinder, but it's what happens when you hinder someone else enough. You'll start to irritate and to annoy them.

Note that this word isn't used by itself, but in phrases like 気に障る (to hurt one's feelings) or 体に障る (to be bad for one's health). Check out the Common Word Combinations for more examples!

Reading

さわる
  • Kyoko
    (Tokyo accent, female)
  • Kenichi
    (Tokyo accent, male)

Explanation

Since this word consists of a kanji with hiragana attached, you can bet that it will use the kun'yomi reading. You didn't learn that reading with this kanji, so here's a mnemonic to help you:

If you want to irritate me, all you have to do is make what I'm eating sour (さわ). Did you know sour food is known to be bad for you, too? Don't make that sour face, stop eating sour things!

Context

Pattern of Use

Common Word Combinations

  • 勉強に障る

    to negatively affect one's studies

    仕事に障る

    to negatively affect one's work

    しゃくに障る

    to be irritating

    身体に障る

    to be bad for one's health

    神経に障る

    get on one's nerves

    耳に障る

    to grate on one's ears

    かんに障る

    to be irritating

    気に障る

    to hurt one's feelings, to offend one

Context Sentences

ごめん。気に障ったのなら、あやまるよ。

I'm sorry. I apologize if I offended you.

暴飲暴食は体に障るよ。

Over drinking and over eating will hinder your health.

仕事に差し障るので、顔出しは出来ません。

It'll hinder my job, so I can't reveal my face.

彼女の金切り声が時々癪に障るんだよね。

Sometimes her shrill voice can be really irritating.

Kanji Composition