邪魔する
jama suru
The Japanese way to say 'to bother' is 邪魔する, pronounced jama suru.
邪魔する is used to mean to annoy, to disturb or to be troublesome to someone. Depending on your tone, phrases like 邪魔ですよ (you are in the way or you are bothering me) can sound quite blunt or even rude because they directly label a person or object as an obstruction.
Meaning: to annoy, to disturb, to be troublesome to (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of the noun 邪魔, which literally means an obstruction, hindrance or interference, followed by the verb for 'to do'.
How does it change in a sentence?
There is a distinction between actively bothering someone and simply being an obstacle. While 邪魔する means to actively bother or interrupt, the phrase 邪魔になる is used to describe a state of being in the way or becoming a hindrance.
How do you pronounce it?
jama suru
Did you know?
- When entering a room where someone is working, it is common to say お邪魔します, which literally translates to 'I will hinder you'.
- The nuance of 'bothering' someone in Japanese is often expressed through the concept of 'meiwaku' (nuisance) rather than 'jama' (obstruction) when discussing social etiquette.
- The noun 邪魔 is often used in the term 邪魔者 (jamamono) to specifically mean a 'spoiler' or someone who ruins a game or a situation.
Examples in context
- 君を邪魔するくらいなら私は数独をやってるよ。I will play Sudoku then instead of continuing to bother you.This sentence is useful for seeing how to express choosing an alternative activity rather than continuing to 邪魔する someone.Tatoeba #181956 by sugisaki, translation #1430 by wakaran
- すまない、ちょっと迷惑かけるんだけど、明日の予定変更してもらえる？Sorry, but can you do me a little favor and change tomorrow's plans?
Example conversation
Hiroto enters the room while Misaki is reading.
- 大翔 Hirotoごめん、ちょっと邪魔するよ。Gomen, chotto jama suru yo.Sorry, I'm bothering you for a moment.
- 美咲 Misaki大丈夫だよ。どうしたの？Daijobu dayo. Dos hita no?It's okay. What's up?
- 大翔 Hirotoこの本の場所を教えてほしいんだ。Kono hon no basho o oshiete hoshii nda.I want you to tell me where this book is.
- 美咲 Misakiあそこにあるよ。Asoko ni aru yo.It's over there.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
