impediment

Compared meaning: an obstacle that blocks progress or success (noun).

比较义项：阻碍进展或成功的障碍（名词）。

• handicap

  Emphasizes a disadvantage relative to others, especially in competition or comparison of ability; often personal or physical. Common in phrases like 'under a handicap' or 'handicapped by'.

  强调相对于他人的劣势，尤其在竞争或能力比较中；常指个人或身体方面的不利。常见搭配为“under a handicap”（处于不利地位）或“handicapped by”（因…而处于劣势）。

  Being short is a real handicap for a basketball player.

  身材矮小对篮球运动员来说是一个真正的不利条件。

• impediment 本词

  More formal; emphasizes something that blocks or delays a process, plan, or negotiation, often institutional, such as funding, law, or bureaucracy.

  更为正式；强调阻碍或拖延某个过程、计划或谈判的进展，常与体制性因素有关，例如资金、法律或官僚程序。

  Red tape remains the biggest impediment to reforming the tax system.

  繁琐的官僚程序仍然是税制改革的最大障碍。

Handicap and impediment both mean an obstacle that makes something hard. Handicap stresses a disadvantage compared to others, often in competition. Impediment is more formal, stressing something that delays or blocks a process. Their other meanings, speech impediment and physical disability, are not compared here.

这两个词在这个意义上都指“造成困难的障碍”，但 handicap 更强调与他人相比处于劣势（常见于竞争、能力比较的场合），impediment 更正式，强调拖延或阻挡某个过程（常见于制度、政策等抽象场合）。这里不比较 impediment 的“口吃”义（speech impediment），也不比较 handicap 的“身体或智力障碍”义。