邪魔

邪魔

1. evil spirit; demon; devil

• Including the honorific prefix お (o-): お邪 (じゃ)魔 (ま) (ojama), 御 (お)邪 (じゃ)魔 (ま) (ojama)

Originally a Buddhist term, imported into Japanese when Buddhism was introduced to Japan, some time during the Kofun, Asuka, and Nara periods.

From Middle Chinese 邪魔 (*zia *mɑ?, literally “wrong, evil, perverse” + “devil, demon”). Compare modern Mandarin 邪魔 (xiémó).

• On’yomi: Goon
  • (Tokyo) じゃま [jàmá] (Heiban – [0])[1]
  • IPA^(key): [d͡ʑa̠ma̠]

邪魔 (hiragana じゃま, rōmaji jama)

1. (Buddhism) a demon or devil of perversity, a hindrance to the practice of Buddhism
2. more generally, an obstacle, a hindrance, interference

   箱 (はこ)をここに放 (ほう)るのは邪 (じゃ)魔 (ま)だよ。

   Hako o koko ni hōru no wa jama da yo.

   Those boxes you threw down here are in the way.

3. a nuisance, a bother

   電 (でん)話 (わ)の邪 (じゃ)魔 (ま)をしないでください。

   Denwa no jama o shinaide kudasai.

   Please don't be a nuisance when I'm on the phone. → Please don't interrupt my phone calls.

4. (figuratively, idiomatic, humble) a visit

   Usually prefixed with the honorific お (o-). Said of oneself visiting someone else, never said of others.

   来週 (らいしゅう)お邪 (じゃ)魔 (ま)にあがってもよろしいでしょうか。

   Raishū ojama ni agatte mo yoroshii deshō ka.

   Would it be all right to visit you next week?

邪魔する (hiragana じゃまする, rōmaji jama suru)

1. to impede, to obstruct

   そのパイプが通 (つう)過 (か)を邪 (じゃ)魔 (ま)しています。

   Sono paipu ga tsūka o jama shite imasu.

   That pipe is impeding passage.

2. to be a bother, obstacle, nuisance, hindrance

   宿題 (しゅくだい)しているから邪 (じゃ)魔 (ま)しないでくれ。

   Shukudai shite iru kara jama shinaide kure.

   I'm doing my homework, so don't bother me.

• お邪 (じゃ)魔 (ま)します (ojama shimasu): literally: “I'm being a bother / I'm bothering you” → said upon arrival when visiting someone's place: “hello, sorry for any trouble”

• (impede): 妨 (さまた)げる (samatageru)

邪魔

1. Hán tự form of tà ma (“bad ghost”).