The Meaning of jama [邪魔] In Japanese

邪魔
じゃま
Romaji: jama N5

What does 邪魔 mean?

Translation and Meaning

hindrance, obstruction, nuisance, to interfere

Definition

邪魔 means something or someone that blocks progress or interferes with activities, functioning as a hindrance in physical spaces or in plans.

Type

Noun, na-adjective; verb phrase 邪魔をする

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • 1) Physical obstruction or obstacle blocking a path or space
  • 2) Interference that prevents action or completion of a task
  • 3) Nuisance or annoyance in social or everyday situations

Composition

  • 邪: evil, wrong; harmful influence
  • 魔: demon, spirit; magic; demonic
  • Joint meaning: a force that blocks or hinders, often described as an intrusive or harmful presence

Usage

  • Used as a noun or na-adjective to describe something that is in the way in everyday Japanese
  • As a verb phrase 邪魔をする indicates active hindrance; 邪魔になる expresses that something becomes a hindrance
  • In polite speech邪魔です and casual邪魔だ are common; the set phrase お邪魔します is used when politely entering someone’s space
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: see 邪 and 魔 as an evil pair blocking your path; remember jama as the word for something that literally stands in your way, like a demon in the doorway.

Variations

  • 妨害 (bougai) — interference
  • 障害 (shougai) — obstacle
  • 邪魔な (jama na) — nuisance (adjective form)
  • 邪魔をする (jama o suru) — to hinder
  • 邪魔になる (jama ni naru) — to become a hindrance

Words with the same Kanji

Example Phrases

  • 仕事中に 同僚が 邪魔をして 本当に 集中できない
    shigoto-chū ni dōryō ga jama o shite hontō ni shūchū dekinai
    During work, a coworker gets in the way and I really can’t concentrate.
    Lista:
    • 仕事中に (shigoto-chū ni) – during work
    • 同僚が (dōryō ga) – a coworker
    • 邪魔をして (jama o shite) – getting in the way
    • 本当に (hontō ni) – really
    • 集中できない (shūchū dekinai) – can’t concentrate
    「邪魔」 here functions as a noun meaning hindrance and with をする becomes ‘to get in the way’.
邪魔