Japanese word

干渉

Pronunciation

Romajikanshō

Meaning

  • nouninterference

Example

他人の生活への干渉は困ります。ta nin no sei katsu e no kan shō wa koma ri ma su

Interference in other people's lives is unwelcome.

Illustration for 干渉 (interference)

More examples

親が子どもの友人関係に干渉しすぎるのはよくありません。oya ga ko do mo no yū jin kan kei ni kan shō shi su gi ru no wa yo ku a ri ma se n

Parents should not interfere too much in their children's friendships.

Core concept

Refers to intrusive involvement in another person's affairs or an ongoing process that limits its independent course.

Common phrases

  • 私生活への干渉watashi sei katsu e no kan shō

    interference in private life

  • 過度な干渉ka do na kan shō

    excessive interference

  • 干渉を避けるkan shō o sa ke ru

    avoid interference

Similar words

介入kainyū: Deliberate involvement in a situation to influence its course or outcome.
口出しkuchidashi: Unwanted involvement in another person's affairs by offering opinions or advice.
お節介osekkai: Uninvited help or advice given about matters that do not concern the giver.

Definition in Japanese

他人の事柄に必要以上に立ち入り、自分の考えや力で動きを妨げること。ta nin no koto gara ni hitsu yō i jō ni ta chi i ri ji bun no kanga e ya chikara de ugo ki o samata ge ru ko to

Word origin

干渉 (kanshō) combines 干 (kan, "to intervene or obstruct") with 渉 (shō, "to cross or be involved"), using their Sino-Japanese readings to express involvement in another matter.

Usage tips

  • In everyday English, interference usually sounds unwanted, while intervention can sound purposeful or helpful, so the two terms are not interchangeable in personal affairs.

Other meanings

  • meddlingnoun
  • interventionnoun

Opposites

  • 不干渉fukanshōnoninterferencenoun

Related words

  • 干渉するkanshōsuruinterfereverb
  • 干渉的kanshōtekimeddlesomena-adjective

Word lists with this word