ハードル
はーどる
noun
hurdle, obstacle
1.
hurdle (in track and field)
A barrier that runners jump over in track and field events.
ハードルを跳ぶ。
Jump over a hurdle.
百メートルハードルの選手だ。
She's a 100-meter hurdles athlete.
ハードルの高さを調整してから練習を始めた。
They adjusted the hurdle height before starting practice.
2.
obstacle, barrier, difficulty
A figurative barrier or difficulty that must be overcome. Very common in everyday and business contexts.
ハードルが高い。
The bar is high. / It's a difficult challenge.
参加のハードルを下げたい。
I want to lower the barrier to participation.
法律の改正には多くのハードルが残っている。
Many obstacles remain for the legal reform.
USAGE:
Sense 2 is extremely common in modern Japanese. The phrase ハードルが高い/ハードルが低い is used to describe how difficult or easy something is to attempt or achieve.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- ハードルが高い (difficult to achieve, high bar)
- ハードルが低い (easy to attempt, low bar)
- ハードルを上げる (raise the bar)
- ハードルを下げる (lower the bar)
- ハードルを越える (overcome an obstacle)
- ハードルをクリアする (clear a hurdle)
ETYMOLOGY:
From English "hurdle."