分別|ぶんべつbunbetsu[0]heiban (flat)

1. noun, suru verb, transitive verbseparation (e.g. of rubbish when recycling); classification; discrimination; division; distinction

• Synonym仕分けしわけNeutralSorting as a hands-on job — parcel sorting, bookkeeping entries; emphasizes the work of sorting rather than the result.
• Synonym区別くべつNeutralTelling apart or distinguishing; focuses on recognizing differences and doesn't require physically separating things.
• Synonym分類ぶんるいNeutralClassifying by criteria, common from academia to everyday files and goods, as in 「生物の分類」; 「分別」 usually means physically separating rubbish etc.
• Synonym区分くぶんNeutralDividing up and demarcating, as in 「年齢区分」; stresses drawing boundaries, while 「分別」 stresses separating by type.
• Synonym識別しきべつWrittenWritten/formal prose: identifying what something is, as in 「識別番号」; about recognition, not physically putting things apart.
• Synonym種別しゅべつWrittenWritten/formal prose: distinguishing by type, as in 「種別欄」; focuses on type labels.
• Synonym区分けくわけNeutralDividing into zones, e.g. traffic lanes or shelf sections; stresses spatial division.
• Synonym見分けみわけNeutralColloquial: telling things apart, often as 「見分けがつかない」; about spotting the difference.
• Synonym判別はんべつWrittenWritten/formal prose: judging which is which, as in 「真偽の判別」; stresses making the judgement.
• Synonym鑑別かんべつWrittenWritten/formal prose: careful expert discrimination, as in 「雌雄鑑別」; a specialist term.
• Synonym選り分けるよりわけるNeutralColloquial verb for picking out and separating good from bad; 「分別」 only sorts by type, not quality.
• Synonym選別せんべつNeutralSelecting by standard, e.g. grading fruit; 「分別」 only separates by type.
• Synonym分かちわかちWrittenWritten/formal prose: distinction, often as 「…の分かちなく」; everyday speech uses 「区別」.
• Synonym部分けぶわけNeutralRare word for dividing into categories; say 「分類」 instead, while 「分別」 mostly means physically separating rubbish.
• Synonym口分けくちわけNeutralLoosely related and rare: combining assorted kinds together — the opposite direction from 「分別」's separating.
• Synonym弁別べんべつWrittenWritten/formal prose and rare: discerning differences; about perceiving them, not physically separating things.
• Synonym類別るいべつWrittenWritten/formal prose and rare: classification; everyday speech uses 「分類」, and 「分別」 is mostly for rubbish.
• Synonym部別ぶべつWrittenWritten/formal prose and rare: sorting into classes; in daily speech say 「分類」.
• SynonymソートNeutralLoanword for sorting data into order; it's about ordering, while 「分別」 separates by type.
• RelatedわきまえるNeutralKnowing right from wrong and how to behave; close to the 「ふんべつ」 sense of 「分別」 (discretion, common sense).
• RelatedふるいにかけるNeutralIdiom for sifting out and weeding, e.g. screening candidates; stresses picking the good ones, not just sorting by type.
• RelatedスクリーニングNeutralLoanword for screening, mostly medical checkups; not used for sorting rubbish.
• Relatedふるい分けるふるいわけるNeutralSifting and screening, focused on picking out the ones that qualify; 「分別」 simply separates by type.
• Antonym混同こんどうNeutralAntonym: lumping different things together or confusing them — the opposite of 「分別」.

Use 「分別」 for separating rubbish and the like by type, as in 「ゴミの分別」. For classifying data, goods or academic subjects say 「分類」; for recognizing differences say 「区別」; for hands-on sorting like parcels say 「仕分け」. The formal -betsu words 識別・判別・鑑別・弁別 are for telling things apart, while 選別 and 選り分ける add picking good from bad. Note that 「分別」 read 「ふんべつ」 means discretion, not sorting.

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

1. （ぶんべつ） 種類しゅるいごとに区別くべつや区分くぶんすること。
2. （ぶんべつ） 種類しゅるいごとに区別くべつや区分くぶんする。