How to say "differentiation" in Japanese

• 差別さべつJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbMostly this word means discrimination — treating people unfairly — so for 'differentiation' it is seldom the word you want, though it does appear for setting a product apart from its rivals.
  その週間しゅうかんは差別さべつとは関係かんけいがなかった。↗

  That week had nothing to do with discrimination.
• 区別くべつJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbUse this when 'differentiation' means telling one thing from another — drawing a distinction between people, things, or cases; this is the word you want for that everyday sense.
  私は彼女かのじょと妹いもうとを区別くべつできなかった。↗

  I couldn't tell her from her sister.
• 分化ぶんかCommon
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbCovers 'differentiation' in its technical sense — cells or parts developing from a common origin into specialized forms, as in biology.
• 分かちわかちCommon
  nounFor 'differentiation' this is seldom the word you want: it is really the noun of a verb meaning to divide or part things, a sense of separation more than distinction.

For differentiation as telling things apart use 区別; for the technical sense of parts or cells becoming specialized use 分化; 差別 usually means discrimination and 「分かち」 division, so both seldom fit.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 差別さべつdistinction
• 区別くべつdistinction
• 分化ぶんかspecialization
• 分かちわかちdistinction
• 微分びぶんdifferentiation
• ディファレンシエーションdifferentiation
• 微分法びぶんほうdifferentiation
• 差別化さべつかdifferentiation
• 差異化さいかdifferentiation
• 区別立てくべつだてdifferentiation