閉塞感

English translation: a sense of restriction

05:31 Sep 18, 2012
Japanese to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - Social Science, Sociology, Ethics, etc. / feeling of the Japanese community
Japanese term or phrase: 閉塞感
What does this term signify in terms of Japanese society today?

I want to know how to express this as a short phrase.

I have possible translations such as a sense of despair, or a sense of stagnation.

Which would suit best?

Japanese in the group, how do you think you can best describe this phenomenon in Japan?
Shobhana Chandu
Local time: 20:14
English translation:a sense of restriction
Explanation:
It depends on the context...and I can't understand the meaning / usage of this term without the context.

My guess is that it is referring to the feeling of not having enough freedom, maybe due to the need to conform to society, or just feeling a sense of restriction and not being able to free oneself from the pressures of the society? I'm not sure...

EDICT: locked up feeling, cooped up feeling, feeling of entrapment

p.s. I tried to submit this once but failed...I hope I don't accidentally double post!
Selected response from:

Joss Ky
Australia
Local time: 01:44
Grading comment
Thank you.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
2 +1a sense of restriction
Joss Ky
3a sense of stagnation
Akiteru Sasayama
3feeling trapped
David Patrick


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


36 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5 peer agreement (net): +1
a sense of restriction


Explanation:
It depends on the context...and I can't understand the meaning / usage of this term without the context.

My guess is that it is referring to the feeling of not having enough freedom, maybe due to the need to conform to society, or just feeling a sense of restriction and not being able to free oneself from the pressures of the society? I'm not sure...

EDICT: locked up feeling, cooped up feeling, feeling of entrapment

p.s. I tried to submit this once but failed...I hope I don't accidentally double post!

Joss Ky
Australia
Local time: 01:44
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in JapaneseJapanese
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thank you.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Tatsuya Yabuuchi: Thank you.
455 days
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
a sense of stagnation


Explanation:
【Just for reference】

閉塞感 is a feeling that there's no way out.
So it is "a sense of stagnation," exactly the same expression you've posted in your question.

Akiteru Sasayama
Japan
Local time: 23:44
Native speaker of: Japanese
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
feeling trapped


Explanation:
"a sense of feeling closed in" or "feeling trapped" might sound more natural depending on context.

David Patrick
Ireland
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 16
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