分水嶺

• 読み: ぶんすいれい
• ローマ字: bunsuirei
• 漢字の分解: 分 (bun) — divide, separate; 水 (sui) — water; 嶺 (rei) — peak, ridge
• 発音: /bɯn.sɯi.ɾeː/

意味

Watershed; continental divide. A ridge or elevated line that separates river basins flowing in different directions. Figuratively, a decisive turning point or pivotal juncture.

A three-kanji compound used in geography to describe the topographic boundary that determines which ocean a given stream will flow toward. Its figurative use — as a critical juncture beyond which events take a different course — is extremely common in political commentary, business strategy, and narrative writing. In this metaphorical sense it overlaps with 転換点 but carries a stronger implication of irreversibility.

例文

1. 中央分水嶺を境に、東側の川は太平洋へ、西側は日本海へと流れる。
2. 今回の会議は、両国間の外交関係における分水嶺となる局面だと評された。
3. 登山道はこの峰の分水嶺を越えると、一気に険しさを増す。

使い方ガイド

場面: geography, figurative language, political commentary

トーン: analytical

起源と歴史

Sino-Japanese compound. 分 (bun) means to divide, 水 (sui) means water, and 嶺 (rei) means mountain peak or ridge. The compound describes the mountain spine that divides flowing water into separate river systems.

文化的背景

時代: Meiji–Modern

世代: Adults

社会的背景: Universal