閉塞(へいそく)

へいそく
noun, verb-suru
blockage; stagnation; impasse
1. blockage; obstruction; occlusion
A physical blockage or closure, especially of a passage, vessel, or opening. Used in medical and technical contexts.
血管(けっかん)の閉塞(へいそく)が見(み)つかった。
A blockage in the blood vessel was found.
腸閉塞(ちょうへいそく)で緊急(きんきゅう)手術(しゅじゅつ)を受(う)けた。
He underwent emergency surgery for an intestinal obstruction.
道路(どうろ)が土砂(どしゃ)で閉塞(へいそく)した。
The road was blocked by a landslide.
2. stagnation; impasse; feeling of being stuck
A figurative sense of being trapped, stuck, or unable to make progress. Used to describe social, economic, or psychological states of deadlock.
社会(しゃかい)に閉塞感(へいそくかん)が漂(ただよ)っている。
A sense of stagnation pervades society.
経済(けいざい)の閉塞(へいそく)を打破(だは)するには改革(かいかく)が必要(ひつよう)だ。
Reform is needed to break through the economic stagnation.
若者(わかもの)の間(あいだ)に広(ひろ)がる閉塞感(へいそくかん)が社会(しゃかい)問題(もんだい)になっている。
The sense of impasse spreading among young people has become a social issue.

A する verb with both physical and figurative meanings.

SENSE 1 (blockage):

Used medically for vessel occlusion, obstruction of passages, etc.

  • 腸(ちょう)閉塞(へいそく) (intestinal obstruction)
  • 血管(けっかん)閉塞(へいそく) (vascular occlusion)

SENSE 2 (stagnation):

The compound 閉塞感(へいそくかん) (sense of stagnation/impasse) is extremely common in media and social commentary.

  • 閉塞感(へいそくかん)を感(かん)じる (to feel a sense of stagnation)
  • 閉塞(へいそく)状況(じょうきょう) (deadlocked situation)
  • 閉塞(へいそく)を打破(だは)する (to break through the impasse)
general
Added 2026.3.2 16:12
14500/14561_heisoku