1.
to block; to obstruct; to prevent; to hinder
To stand in the way of something and prevent it from proceeding or being achieved. Used for both physical obstacles and abstract hindrances.
悪天候が登山を阻んだ。
Bad weather blocked the mountain climb.
資金不足が計画の実行を阻んでいる。
A lack of funding is hindering the execution of the plan.
相手チームの粘り強い守備が勝利を阻んだ。
The opposing team's tenacious defense prevented a victory.
Transitive verb. The subject that blocks is often an abstract concept (weather, lack of resources, opposition) rather than a person.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 行く手を阻む (to block one's path)
- 進出を阻む (to block an advance)
- 成長を阻む (to hinder growth)
- 勝利を阻む (to prevent a victory)
SIMILAR WORDS:
妨げる is a close synonym but sounds slightly more literary and is more often used with human agents. 阻む emphasizes the idea of standing as a barrier, while 妨げる focuses on the act of interfering.