分類

• Reading: ぶんるい
• Romaji: bunrui
• Kanji breakdown: 分 (bun) — divide, part; 類 (rui) — kind, type, category
• Pronunciation: /bɯ.ɴ.ɾɯ.i/

Meaning

Classification; categorization; sorting things into groups based on shared characteristics.

A noun that also functions as a する verb (分類する means 'to classify'). Widely used in science, libraries, and data organization. Often appears with される (passive) in academic writing to describe how things are grouped or categorized.

Examples

1. ごみを種類ごとに分類してください。 Please sort the trash by type.
2. この植物はどのグループに分類されますか。 Which group is this plant classified into?
3. 本を分類する方法はいろいろある。 There are various ways to classify books.

Usage Guide

Context: science, libraries, data management

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Composed of 分 (divide, part) and 類 (kind, type, category). Together they express the act of dividing things into their respective types or categories.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal