How to say "compartment" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 区画くかくnoun, suru verb, transitive verbA compartment as a clearly bounded section of a larger space — a divided-off area or block. Think of sections of a parking lot or storage space: the compartment is the area itself.
- 区分くぶんnoun, suru verb, transitive verbReally means division or demarcation — classifying things into categories or sections — not a physical compartment. For 'compartment' as an actual space, this is seldom the word you want.
- 仕切りしきりnounA compartment understood through its partitions: the divider itself, and by extension the space it separates. Typical of compartments inside a box, bag, or closet, where dividers create separate sections.
- 区分けくわけnoun, suru verb, transitive verbConcerns the act of dividing or sorting things into sections — even traffic lanes — rather than any compartment itself. For 'compartment' as a space, this is rarely the word you want.
For a compartment as a physical space, choose 区画 for a clearly bounded section or 「仕切り」 for one formed by partitions; 区分 and 「区分け」 are about dividing or classifying, not compartments themselves.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
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