Translation guide
The concept of separating groups of people, often by race, ethnicity, or other social categories. This guide covers how to express this in Japanese, from formal terms to everyday descriptions.
To refer to the systematic separation of racial or social groups, especially in contexts like apartheid, Jim Crow, or school segregation.
The standard term for racial segregation. Used in formal and academic contexts.
アメリカではかつて人種隔離政策が行われていた。
In the United States, racial segregation policies were once enforced.
General term for isolation or separation. Can refer to segregation when context is clear, but also used for quarantine or separating things.
その地域では、今もなお事実上の隔離が続いている。
In that area, de facto segregation still continues.
Literally 'discriminatory segregation'. Emphasizes the unjust nature of the separation. Less common but used in human rights discourse.
差別隔離は基本的人権の侵害だ。
Discriminatory segregation is a violation of basic human rights.
To describe the act of separating people or things into different groups, such as by gender, age, or function.
General term for separation or segregation. Can be used for physical separation of objects, or social separation of groups.
廃棄物の分別は、資源の分離を目的としている。
Waste sorting aims at the separation of resources.
男女の分離は時代遅れだという意見もある。
Some say that gender segregation is outdated.
Division or classification. Often used for administrative or categorical separation, not necessarily physical.
Barrier or separation, often implying a psychological or social distance. Can be used in phrases like 隔てなく (without discrimination).
To describe situations where a group chooses to separate itself from others, often for cultural or religious reasons.
Voluntary separation. Used when a group intentionally isolates itself.
そのコミュニティは自発的分離を選んだ。
That community chose voluntary segregation.
Autonomous isolation. Similar to 自発的分離 but slightly more formal.
宗教的な理由で自主的隔離を行う集団もある。
Some groups practice voluntary segregation for religious reasons.
To refer to the separation of alleles during meiosis. Technical term in biology.
In genetics, 分離 is the standard translation for Mendelian segregation.
メンデルの法則では、遺伝子の分離が起きる。
According to Mendel's laws, segregation of genes occurs.
隔離 (isolation) often implies forced separation or quarantine, while 分離 (separation) is more neutral and can be used for physical or abstract separation. For racial segregation, 人種隔離 is the most precise term.
In everyday conversation, Japanese speakers might describe segregation using phrases like 分けられている (are separated) rather than a single noun. Using 隔離 might sound too strong or medical unless the context is clear.
人種隔離は1960年代に廃止された。
Racial segregation was abolished in the 1960s.
その学校では男女を分離していた。
The school practiced segregation by gender.
These documents are stored according to their security classification.
彼は人を隔てなく接する。
He treats everyone without discrimination.