How to say "discrete" in Japanese

• 別個べっこCommon
  no-adjectiveCovers the everyday sense of 'discrete' as separate and distinct — things treated as individual, not joined. Typical in general writing, e.g. keeping matters separate or distinct from one another.
  その二ふたつの考かんがえはまったく別個べっこのものだ。↗

  Those two ideas are quite distinct.
• ディスクリート
  nounA technical loanword meaning 'discrete' only in the electronics sense of discrete semiconductor devices, as opposed to integrated circuits. It is not the word for 'discrete' in ordinary or mathematical contexts.
• 離散的りさんてき
  na-adjectiveThe usual choice for 'discrete' in mathematics and technical writing, describing values or quantities that are individually distinct and separate rather than continuous. Uncommon outside such formal contexts.
• 個別的こべつてき
  na-adjectiveMeans 'individual' or 'particular' first, with 'discrete' as a secondary gloss — handling things one by one rather than as a whole. For plain 'discrete', 離散的 or 別個 is usually the better choice.

Use 別個 for everyday 'separate and distinct', 離散的 for mathematical/technical discreteness, 個別的 for item-by-item individuality, and 「ディスクリート」 only as the electronics term for discrete semiconductor devices.

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

• 別個べっこanother
• ディスクリートdiscrete (semiconductor device)
• 離散的りさんてきdiscrete
• 個別的こべつてきindividual
• 約やかつづまやかmodest