分裂|ぶんれつbunretsu[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N1approx.Common
Definitions
  1. noun, suru verb, intransitive verbsplit; division; break up
    党派とうはは二ふたつに分裂ぶんれつした。↗
    The party was split up into two.
Conjugation
Dictionary form分裂する(ぶんれつする)
Polite (masu)分裂します(ぶんれつします)
Negative (nai)分裂しない(ぶんれつしない)
polite (masen)分裂しません(ぶんれつしません)
classical zu / nu分裂せず・分裂せぬ(ぶんれつせず・ぶんれつせぬ)
Past (ta)分裂した(ぶんれつした)
polite (mashita)分裂しました(ぶんれつしました)
Past negative (nakatta)分裂しなかった(ぶんれつしなかった)
polite (masen deshita)分裂しませんでした(ぶんれつしませんでした)
Te form分裂して(ぶんれつして)
Potential分裂できる(ぶんれつできる)
Passive分裂される(ぶんれつされる)
Causative分裂させる(ぶんれつさせる)
Causative passive分裂させられる(ぶんれつさせられる)
Conditional (ba)分裂すれば(ぶんれつすれば)
tara分裂したら(ぶんれつしたら)
Volitional分裂しよう(ぶんれつしよう)
polite (mashou)分裂しましょう(ぶんれつしましょう)
Imperative分裂しろ(ぶんれつしろ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym分離ぶんりNeutralA noun for separation (「成分を分離する」); it stresses a part being detached from the whole, while 「分裂」 stresses a whole cracking into pieces inside.
  • Synonym分割ぶんかつNeutralA noun for partitioning (「土地を分割する」); it stresses deliberate cutting into sections, whereas 「分裂」 is a whole splitting into pieces.
  • Related分散ぶんさんNeutralA noun for dispersal (「票が分散する」); it stresses things scattering to many places rather than one whole breaking apart.
  • Related別れるわかれるNeutralFor parting from people, pets, one's hometown and the like, or for lovers breaking up (「恋人と別れる」「故郷と別れる」).
  • Related分かれるわかれるNeutralA native Japanese verb for something dividing into several parts (「意見が分かれる」「道が分かれる」).
  • Related解離かいりWrittenA noun of formal written prose for dissociation (「分子の解離」), used mainly in chemistry and psychology.
  • Antonym結合けつごうNeutralAn antonym of 「分裂」: things joining or being joined together into one.
  • Antonym統一とういつNeutralAn antonym of 「分裂」: unifying separate things into a single whole.
  • Antonym融合ゆうごうNeutralAn antonym of 「分裂」: two or more things fusing into one, the opposite of splitting apart.

Use 「分裂」 when one whole cracks into pieces — it works for organizations, cells and opinions (「党が分裂する」「細胞分裂」「世論が分裂する」). When something divides into several branches or directions, say 「分かれる」; to separate something out from a whole, 「分離」; to part from someone or somewhere, 「別れる」. The opposite is 「統一」.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 物体ぶったいや組織そしき、見解けんかいなど、一ひとつのものが幾いくつかに分わかれること。
  2. 生物せいぶつの細胞さいぼうや個体こたいなどが分わかれること。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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