分岐点|ぶんきてんbunkiten

1. nounfork; junction; diverging point
2. nounturning point (e.g. in one's life); crossroads

• Synonym分かれ道わかれみちNeutralNative, colloquial word for a forked road; 「分岐点」 is more written and technical. Also used of life choices, as in 「人生の分かれ道」.
• Related枝分かれえだわかれNeutralBranching off; stresses the process of splitting from a main trunk rather than the point itself, as in 「枝分かれした道」.
• Antonym合流点ごうりゅうてんWrittenWritten term for a point where rivers or roads converge; the opposite of the diverging 「分岐点」.

For a fork in a road or a decisive turning point, written or formal prose uses 「分岐点」, as in 「人生の分岐点」「損益分岐点」. In speech prefer 「分かれ道」; for the branching process itself use 「枝分かれ」. The opposite is 「合流点」, where things merge.

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

1. 道路どうろなどが分岐ぶんきする場所ばしょ。
2. 物事ものごとを分わける際さいの境目さかいめ。