画一・劃一|かくいつkakuitsu[0]heiban (flat)
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Which spelling to use
画一画一 is the most common written form of this word and the recommended default for beginners; use it when you need to write the word.
劃一劃一 is a less common variant of 画一 and is rarely used, so learners will seldom encounter it.
Definitions
- noun, na-adjectiveuniformity; standardization; standardisation
Conjugation
| Plain form | 画一（かくいつ） |
|---|---|
| Polite (desu) | 画一です（かくいつです） |
| Negative (dewa nai) | 画一ではない（かくいつではない） |
| polite (dewa arimasen) | 画一ではありません（かくいつではありません） |
| Past (datta) | 画一だった（かくいつだった） |
| Past negative (dewa nakatta) | 画一ではなかった（かくいつではなかった） |
| Te form (de) | 画一で（かくいつで） |
| Adverbial (ni) | 画一に（かくいつに） |
| Conditional (nara) | 画一なら（かくいつなら） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym均一きんいつNeutralUniformity of price, quality, colour etc., with no differences, as in 「百円均一」「品質が均一」. Unlike 「画一」 it carries no negative nuance of forced sameness.
- Synonym一律いちりつNeutralAcross-the-board, one-size-fits-all treatment, as in 「一律千円」. It stresses handling everything by the same rule; neutral, unlike the critical tone of 「画一」.
- Synonym一様いちようNeutralDescribes a state of being the same or even, as in 「一様に」「一様ではない」. It focuses on identical condition rather than enforced standardization.
- Synonym画一的かくいつてきNeutral「画一」 with 「的」 attached; the form most often used in practice, frequently with a critical nuance of lacking individuality, as in 「画一的な教育」.
- Related同質どうしつWrittenSame quality or nature; an academic, written term. It simply states shared character and does not imply enforced standardization the way 「画一」 does.
- Related均質きんしつWrittenHomogeneous in texture or quality; a technical, written term, e.g. for materials whose parts are all alike. No nuance of imposed uniformity.
- Related均等きんとうNeutralEqual in quantity, degree or distribution, as in 「機会均等」「均等な間隔」. It concerns even amounts, not the elimination of individuality.
- Related同質的どうしつてきWrittenHomogeneous; in sociology often describes groups whose members share similar backgrounds, as in 「同質的な集団」. Written, academic flavour.
- Related等質とうしつWrittenEqual or uniform quality; an academic, written term that is rarely used. Describes sameness of quality without any nuance of forced standardization.
- Antonym多様たようNeutralDiverse, varied — the direct opposite of the uniform sameness of 「画一」.
- Antonym個性的こせいてきNeutralIndividual and distinctive — the opposite of the cookie-cutter, one-mold sameness of 「画一」.
Use 「画一」 for forcing everything into one mold and lacking individuality, often as 「画一的」, e.g. 「画一的な管理」. For identical prices or quality say 「均一」; for across-the-board treatment 「一律」; for equal amounts 「均等」. The opposites are 「多様」 and 「個性的」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
See also
