hindrance

/ˈhɪndrəns/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈhɪndrəns/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈhin-drən(t)s/ (ame, mw)

hindrance — noun

  • hindrancesingular
  • hindrancesplural

1. A person, condition, or circumstance that slows progress or blocks the achieveme

1.名詞B2
釋義

A person, condition, or circumstance that slows progress or blocks the achievement of a goal.

例句

The broken elevator was a major hindrance for people on upper floors.

collocation: major hindrance

Jisoo considered her shyness a hindrance when making new friends.

pattern: consider + noun + a hindrance

同義詞
  • obstacle

    more concrete; something you must physically overcome or go around

  • impediment

    more formal; often refers to a physical or medical limitation

  • barrier

    stronger; suggests something that completely blocks rather than just slows

  • drawback

    milder; a disadvantage or inconvenience rather than a blocker

反義詞
  • help

    general opposite; something that makes progress easier

  • aid

    suggests active assistance toward a goal

文法句型

a hindrance (to something/someone)

without hindrance

用法筆記

Countable when referring to a specific person or thing (a hindrance, the main hindrance). Uncountable in fixed formal phrases such as without let or hindrance.

常見錯誤

❌The heavy rain was a hindrance to the car's engine.
✅The heavy rain was a hindrance to our travel plans.
💡hindrance blocks a goal or process, not a mechanical function.
❌He removed the fallen tree, which was a hindrance in the middle of the road.
✅He removed the fallen tree, which was an obstacle in the middle of the road.
💡a physical thing you must climb over or move is an obstacle; a hindrance can be more general and often non-physical.

2. The process of deliberately blocking or slowing someone or something, or the con

2.名詞C1
釋義

The process of deliberately blocking or slowing someone or something, or the condition of being blocked or slowed yourself.

例句

The reporter accused the office of hindrance during the investigation.

pattern: accused + of + hindrance

The law specifically forbids any hindrance of rescue workers at accident scenes.

pattern: forbids + hindrance of [noun]

同義詞
  • obstruction

    more formal and legal; often used for physically blocking something

  • interference

    suggests unwanted meddling rather than slowing progress

  • disruption

    emphasises breaking the normal flow of an activity

反義詞

文法句型

hindrance (of something)

deliberate hindrance

用法筆記

Almost always uncountable. More common in legal, bureaucratic, and formal contexts than in everyday conversation.

常見錯誤

❌The rain was a hindrance to me doing my shopping.' (meaning: the rain made shopping unpleasant)
✅The rain was a hindrance to my plan to finish shopping before dark.
💡hindrance implies blocking a specific goal, not just causing inconvenience.