How to say "discrimination" in Japanese

• 別べつJLPT N4approx.Common
  nounReally 'a difference' or 'being separate'; as a standalone noun it is seldom the word you want for 'discrimination' — reach for it only when you mean a plain distinction or difference.
• 差別さべつJLPT N3approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbThis is the word for discrimination in the social sense — unfair treatment of people; it also means differentiation, treating or distinguishing things differently.
  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 verbThe general word for making a distinction — telling one thing from another; use it when 'discrimination' means distinguishing between similar things.
  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.
• 識別しきべつCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbFor 'discrimination' as discernment or identification: recognizing something for what it is and telling it apart from others by its features.
  私の目めは色いろが識別しきべつしにくくなってきた。↗

  My eyes have become less appreciative of colors.
• 判別はんべつCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbCovers 'discrimination' as distinguishing or discerning — judging which of two things is which, telling whether something is one kind or another.

Use 差別 for unfair treatment of people, 区別 for telling things apart, 識別 for identifying or discerning one thing from others, 判別 for judging which is which, and 別 only for a plain difference or separation.

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

• 別べつdistinction
• 差別さべつdistinction
• 区別くべつdistinction
• 識別しきべつdistinction
• 判別はんべつdistinction
• 分別ぶんべつseparation (e.g. of rubbish when recycling)
• 鑑別かんべつdiscrimination
• 分かちわかちdistinction
• 鑑識かんしきjudgement
• ハラスメントharassment (esp. in workplace)
• 有心うしんdiscrimination
• 眼識がんしきdiscrimination
• 被差別ひさべつdiscrimination
• 見境みさかいdistinction
• 偏頗へんぱfavoritism
• 弁別べんべつdistinguishing
• 分別心ふんべつしんprudence
• 区別立てくべつだてdifferentiation
• 分け隔てわけへだてdistinction
• きらいdistinction
• めがねjudgment
• 甲乙こうおつsuperiority and (or) inferiority
• めdiscrimination