頓挫(とんざ)

とんざ
noun
setback; breakdown; stalling; falling through
formalbusiness
1. setback; breakdown; stalling; falling through
A situation where a project, plan, or process comes to a sudden halt or fails to progress, often permanently.
計画(けいかく)が頓挫(とんざ)した。
The plan fell through.
資金難(しきんなん)で事業(じぎょう)が頓挫(とんざ)した。
The business stalled due to funding difficulties.
反対(はんたい)にあって改革(かいかく)が頓挫(とんざ)するのを恐(おそ)れた。
I feared the reform would be derailed by opposition.

頓挫(とんざ) describes a project or plan coming to an abrupt halt.

Forms

  • 頓(とん) (suddenly) + 挫(ざ) (crush, break)

頓挫(とんざ)する - to stall, to fall through, to be derailed

Common collocations

Usage

Implies a sudden stop that is difficult to recover from, often suggesting the end of a project rather than a temporary pause.

Related Words

Related: 破綻(はたん) (collapse, failure)
Compare: 挫折(ざせつ) (setback)
Compare: 暗礁(あんしょう)に乗(の)り上(あ)げる (to hit a snag)
Compare: 沙汰止(さたや)み (being dropped)
general
Added 2026.1.31 11:21 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
09000/09065_tonza