差別|さべつsabetsu[1]atamadaka (head-high)

JLPT N3approx.Common
しゃべつshabetsuokしゃべちshabechiok
Definitions
  1. noun, suru verb, transitive verbdistinction; differentiation; discrimination
    その週間しゅうかんは差別さべつとは関係かんけいがなかった。↗
    That week had nothing to do with discrimination.
  2. noun, suru verb, transitive verbdiscrimination (against people)
Conjugation
Dictionary form差別する(さべつする)
Polite (masu)差別します(さべつします)
Negative (nai)差別しない(さべつしない)
polite (masen)差別しません(さべつしません)
classical zu / nu差別せず・差別せぬ(さべつせず・さべつせぬ)
Past (ta)差別した(さべつした)
polite (mashita)差別しました(さべつしました)
Past negative (nakatta)差別しなかった(さべつしなかった)
polite (masen deshita)差別しませんでした(さべつしませんでした)
Te form差別して(さべつして)
Potential差別できる(さべつできる)
Passive差別される(さべつされる)
Causative差別させる(さべつさせる)
Causative passive差別させられる(さべつさせられる)
Conditional (ba)差別すれば(さべつすれば)
tara差別したら(さべつしたら)
Volitional差別しよう(さべつしよう)
polite (mashou)差別しましょう(さべつしましょう)
Imperative差別しろ(さべつしろ)

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

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym区別くべつNeutralObjective sorting of things by their differences, as in 「公私を区別する」. Neutral; 差別 today usually implies unfair treatment of people.
  • Related隔てへだてWrittenWritten style. A barrier between people or differential treatment; most often seen in the negative 「隔てなく」.
  • RelatedえこひいきNeutralFavoring people one is fond of, as in 「えこひいきする」; the point is partiality toward a favored side, not prejudice against a group.
  • Related依怙えこWrittenRare written-language word for favoritism; in everyday speech say 「えこひいき」 instead.
  • Related分け隔てわけへだてNeutralTreating people differently depending on who they are; typically in the negative 「分け隔てなく」, which means handling everyone alike.
  • Related偏愛へんあいWrittenWritten. Doting love for one particular person or thing, as in 「末っ子を偏愛する」; about affection, not unfair treatment.
  • Antonym平等びょうどうNeutralEquality — everyone judged by the same standard with no 差別; the direct opposite of the headword.
  • Antonym公平こうへいNeutralRead きんぴら this is the sweet-soy burdock dish, unrelated here; take it as 公平, fairness without bias — the opposite of 差別.

For unfair treatment based on prejudice use 「差別」; 「区別」 is objective distinction between things, 「えこひいき」 favoring someone you like. 「隔て」「依怙」 are written; 「偏愛」 is doting affection; 「分け隔てなく」 means treating all alike. Opposites: 「平等」「公平」.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 扱あつかいに差さを付つけて分わけること。差さがあること。
  2. (さべつ)先入観せんにゅうかんや偏見へんけんに基もとづき、人ひとの集団しゅうだんを不平等ふびょうどうに扱あつかうこと。
  3. それぞれの物ものが現象げんしょうとしては異ことなって存在そんざいしているということ。違ちがい。差さ。
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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