Translation guide
The English word 'apart' can express physical separation, emotional distance, breaking into pieces, or distinguishing between things. This guide covers natural Japanese ways to convey these meanings.
Describing things or people that are separated by distance, not together, or moved away from each other.
The most common way to say 'apart' in the sense of being separated by distance. Used with verbs like いる (to be) or 住む (to live).
私たちは離れて住んでいます。
We live apart.
The two towns are far apart.
Emphasizes that things or people are separate, not together. Often used for actions done separately.
彼らは別々に行動した。
They acted apart from each other.
荷物を別々に送ってください。
Please send the luggage apart (separately).
Literally 'with a gap/interval'. Used when specifying a distance or spacing things apart.
机を間隔をあけて並べてください。
Please arrange the desks apart (with space between them).
Describing something that falls apart, breaks apart, or comes apart into pieces.
Describes something breaking or falling into separate pieces. Often used with verbs like 壊れる (break) or なる (become).
おもちゃがばらばらになった。
The toy came apart.
本がばらばらに壊れた。
The book fell apart.
Means 'to disassemble' or 'take apart'. Used for mechanical or intentional separation.
時計を分解した。
I took the clock apart.
Intransitive verb meaning 'to break' or 'to split apart'. Used for hard objects like glass or plates.
Describing relationships where people become less close or grow apart emotionally.
Means 'to become estranged' or 'drift apart'. Commonly used for friendships or family relationships that fade.
昔の友達とは疎遠になってしまった。
I've drifted apart from my old friends.
Literally 'hearts separate'. Used for emotional distance in romantic or close relationships.
最近、彼と心が離れている気がする。
Lately I feel like we're growing apart.
Being able to see the difference between two or more things, or to separate them conceptually.
Means 'to distinguish' or 'tell apart'. Used for both physical and abstract differences.
双子の区別がつかない。
I can't tell the twins apart.
善悪を区別するのは難しい。
It's hard to tell apart right from wrong.
Specifically means 'to tell apart by looking' or 'distinguish visually'.
Used to mean 'except for' or 'in addition to'.
Means 'apart from' in the sense of 'except for'. Attach to a noun.
彼を除いて、全員来ました。
Apart from him, everyone came.
Means 'apart from' or 'besides'. Can be used for both 'except' and 'in addition'.
日本語以外に、何語を話しますか？
Apart from Japanese, what languages do you speak?
Intentionally separating things or people, or setting something aside for a purpose.
Means 'to keep apart' or 'keep separated'. Used for physical objects or people.
危険物は他の物から離しておいてください。
Please keep hazardous materials apart from other items.
Means 'to keep separate' or 'set apart'. Often used for abstract things like accounts or categories.
仕事とプライベートは別にしている。
I keep work and private life apart.
English uses 'apart' in many phrasal verbs (fall apart, take apart, tell apart). Japanese often uses a single verb or a different structure. For example, 'fall apart' is often just 壊れる (break) or ばらばらになる, not a direct translation of 'fall' + 'apart'.
The plate broke apart into pieces.
この二つの花を見分けられますか？
Can you tell these two flowers apart?