Japanese word

分別

Pronunciation

Romajibunbetsu

Meaning

  • nounsorting

Example

資源ごみを分別します。shi gen go mi o bun betsu shi ma su

I sort recyclable waste.

Illustration for 分別 (sorting)

More examples

市では、分別を間違えないように案内を配っています。shi de wa bun betsu o ma chiga e na i yō ni an nai o kuba tte i ma su

The city distributes instructions to help residents sort their waste correctly.

Core concept

It describes separating mixed things so that each item belongs to the appropriate group.

Common phrases

  • 資源ごみの分別shi gen go mi no bun betsu

    sorting recyclable waste

  • 分別回収bun betsu kai shū

    separate collection

  • 分別の基準bun betsu no ki jun

    sorting criteria

Similar words

仕分けshiwake: The act of sorting mixed materials into appropriate groups.
分類bunrui: The act of putting things into groups according to shared features.
選別senbetsu: The act of separating items according to quality or suitability.

Definition in Japanese

混じり合った物を性質や目的ごとのまとまりに分けること。ma ji ri a tta mono o sei shitsu ya moku teki go to no ma to ma ri ni wa ke ru ko to

Word origin

分 (bun, "part") plus 別 (betsu, "separation") gives 分別 (bunbetsu, "sorting"), a Sino-Japanese compound that expresses dividing things by category.

Usage tips

  • For Japanese recycling, 分別 (bunbetsu) is a practical household task because local governments may assign different materials to different collection days.

Other meanings

  • separationnoun
  • classificationnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • 分別するbunbetsusurusortverb
  • 分別化bunbetsukacategorizationnoun

Word lists with this word