How to say "separation" in Japanese

• 分割ぶんかつCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbCovers separation as dividing one whole into parts: partition, division, segmenting. Use it when something is being split into pieces, not when people part or a couple lives apart.
  クラスが大おおきすぎるので二ふたつのより小ちいさなグループに分割ぶんかつした。↗

  The class was too big so we split up into two smaller groups.
• 分離ぶんりJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verb, intransitive verbSeparation as detaching or segregating one thing from another — components being separated out and kept apart. Typical of technical and scientific contexts rather than partings between people.
  マヨネーズの油あぶらは分離ぶんりすることがある。↗

  The oil in mayonnaise sometimes separates from the other ingredients.
• 分別ぶんべつCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbSeparation as sorting things into categories, above all rubbish separation for recycling. The sense is classification, so it is not the word for partings between people.
• 別居べっきょCommon
  noun, suru verb, intransitive verbSeparation in the sense of a married couple living apart — marital separation. Use it when spouses set up separate households, not for partings in general.
  彼かれは両親りょうしんと別居べっきょしている。↗

  He lives apart from his parents.
• 別れわかれJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe parting of people: farewells, breakups, and other partings between people. It carries the emotional weight of separation and is not used for dividing objects or sorting things.
  会あうは別わかれの始はじめ。↗

  To meet is to part.

For dividing a whole into parts use 分割; for detaching or segregating components use 分離; for sorting rubbish use 分別; for a couple living apart use 別居; for parting between people use 「別れ」.

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

• 分割ぶんかつpartition
• 分離ぶんりseparation
• 分別ぶんべつseparation (e.g. of rubbish when recycling)
• 別居べっきょseparation
• 別れわかれparting (of people)
• 離脱りだつwithdrawal
• 隔離かくりisolation
• 決別けつべつseparation
• 離別りべつseparation
• 縁切りえんきりseparation
• 遊離ゆうりseparation
• 離散りさんdispersion
• 分立ぶんりつsegregation
• 別離べつりparting
• 隔絶かくぜつisolation
• 乖離かいりdivergence
• 鑑別かんべつdiscrimination
• 析出せきしゅつseparation
• セパレーションseparation
• 物越しものごしseparation (e.g. by a screen, curtain, or door)
• 阻隔そかくseparation
• 離隔りかくisolation
• 夫婦別れふうふわかれdivorce
• 剥がれはがれpeeling
• 独立どくりつseparation
• 三行半みくだりはんbreak up (non-marital)
• 剥離はくり(flow) separation