Japanese word

ハードル

Pronunciation

Romajihādoru

Meaning

  • nounhurdle

Example

彼女は最後のハードルを跳び越えます。kano jo wa sai go no hā do ru o to bi ko e ma su

She clears the final hurdle.

Illustration for ハードル (hurdle)

More examples

新しい制度を導入するには、予算の確保が最初のハードルです。atara shi i sei do o dō nyū su ru ni wa yo san no kaku ho ga sai sho no hā do ru de su

Securing the budget is the first hurdle to introducing the new system.

Core concept

Describes a barrier that demands effort to pass, whether it stands on a track or represents a problem.

Common phrases

  • ハードルを越えるhā do ru o ko e ru

    clear a hurdle

  • ハードルが高いhā do ru ga taka i

    be a high hurdle

  • ハードルを下げるhā do ru o sa ge ru

    lower the hurdle

Similar words

障害shōgai: Something that blocks progress or makes a goal harder to reach.
障壁shōheki: A barrier that prevents or limits progress toward a goal.
難関nankan: A difficult problem or stage that requires considerable effort to overcome.
関門kanmon: A stage or condition that must be passed before progress can continue.

Definition in Japanese

走路に置かれ、走者が跳び越える障害物。また、物事を進める際に乗り越えるべき困難。sō ro ni o ka re sō sha ga to bi ko e ru shō gai butsu ma ta mono goto o susu me ru sai ni no ri ko e ru be ki kon nan

Word origin

ハードル (hādoru, "hurdle") was borrowed from English hurdle, whose earlier sense was a movable fence or framework before its use for a racing obstacle.

Usage tips

  • The English phrase a high hurdle often describes a particularly difficult requirement, not only a barrier used in a race.

Other meanings

  • obstaclenoun

Word lists with this word