How to say "isolate" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- 隔てるへだてるichidan verb, transitive verbThe common, broad verb: to separate or partition, and so to isolate by distance, time or a divide. For the general sense of 'isolate' — setting something apart — this is the usual choice.
- nounA loanword that is simply 'isolate' itself. Being less common, it is not the usual choice; use it when you want the borrowed English term rather than a native verb.
- 孤立概念こりつがいねんnounA less common noun meaning an isolated concept. It matches 'isolate' as a noun — a concept considered in isolation — and is not a way to say the verb 'to isolate'.
- 切り分けるきりわけるichidan verb, transitive verbCovers 'isolate' in the sense of distinguishing parts: singling out one facet or factor of a problem so it can be considered on its own — not the word for physically isolating people or things.
- 取り切るとりきるgodan verbMeans to block something off, so it covers 'isolate' only in that sense — shutting an area or space away from its surroundings. Less common, and seldom the word you want for 'isolate' in general.
Use 「隔てる」, the common verb, for isolating by distance, time or a divide; 「切り分ける」 for isolating one facet of a problem; 「取り切る」 for blocking something off; 「アイソレート」 when you want the loanword itself; 孤立概念 only for the noun.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
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