Japanese word

別

Pronunciation

Romajibetsu

Meaning

  • noundifferent

Example

この二つは別です。ko no futa tsu wa betsu de su

These two are different.

Illustration for 別 (different)

More examples

別の本を読みます。betsu no hon o yo mi ma su

I read a different book.

これは別の問題です。ko re wa betsu no mon dai de su

This is a different problem.

Core concept

Presents one thing as distinct from another instead of grouping them together as the same.

Common phrases

  • 別の人betsu no hito

    different person

  • 別の場所betsu no ba sho

    different place

  • 別の方法betsu no hō hō

    different way

Similar words

違いchigai: The way in which two or more things are not the same.
別物betsumono: A thing treated as separate from another thing rather than as the same thing.

Definition in Japanese

あるものと別のものとが同じではなく、違っていること。a ru mo no to betsu no mo no to ga ona ji de wa na ku chiga tte i ru ko to

Word origin

別 (betsu, "separate") uses the on'yomi reading of the Chinese character 別, which expresses the act of separating or distinguishing things.

Usage tips

  • A short reply of 別に (betsu ni) commonly means "not particularly" or "nothing in particular", not that things are physically separate.

Other meanings

  • differencenoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word