block

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The on reading is しゃ, and the kun reading is さえぎる. It has 14 strokes and relates to blocking or cutting off the flow of light, speech, electricity, or sound.
• Basic usage: 遮る is read さえぎる, and 遮断 is read しゃだん.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 遮る / 遮断
  • 遮る means block or interrupt and is read さえぎる. It describes blocking light or interrupting someone's speech.
  • 人の話を途中で遮るのは失礼だ。 means “It is rude to interrupt someone while they are speaking.”
  • 遮断 means cutoff or blocking and is read しゃだん. It refers to cutting off a flow such as electricity or sound.
  • 工事のため建物への電気が一時的に遮断された。 means “Electricity to the building was temporarily cut off for construction.”