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分かれ目 (わかれめ, wakareme) Japanese meaning: fork | Kotomora
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め
を
右みぎ
に
行い
っ
て
ください
。
Please go right at the fork in this road.
I feel like I'm standing at a crossroads in life.
Usage patterns 〈 事こと 〉 の 分わ かれ 目め the turning point / dividing line of something
This game will likely be the deciding factor for the championship.
分わ かれ 目め に 立た つ to stand at a crossroads (literal or figurative)
He was standing at a crossroads in his life.
〈 事こと 〉 が 分わ かれ 目め となる for something to become the turning point/deciding factor
That single remark became the turning point in their relationship.
Kanji 分 part, minute of time, segment 別 separate, branch off, diverge Related words· 6 岐路 is a formal, literary word for a critical crossroads (often 人生の岐路), while 分かれ目 is more common in everyday speech and news for the same idea.
分岐点 is a more technical term for a literal branching point like a road or railway, while 分かれ目 works for both literal and figurative divisions with a slightly more literary feel.
節目 refers to a milestone or natural turning point in a process (like a season or life stage), while 分かれ目 stresses the moment of decisive division between outcomes.
分かれ目 is a general word for any dividing or branching point such as roads, rivers, or careers, while 股 specifically evokes the shape of forked legs when used for branching points.
Show 2 more 分かれ目 often refers to a fork or decisive turning point in outcomes, while 境目 simply marks where two things meet or separate without implying a decision.
分かれ目 highlights a turning point where outcomes diverge, whereas ボーダーライン focuses on a fixed line separating categories or levels.
Written forms 分わ かれ 目め Usage 92%
Standard kanji spelling; used in news and general writing.
分わか れ 目め Usage 7%
Variant spelling with 分れ instead of 分かれ; less common but still seen.
別わか れ 目め Usage 1%
Rare variant using 別れ; may be encountered in older texts.
Etymology Compound of 分かれ (continuative form of 分かれる, 'to branch off, diverge') + 目 ('point, mark'). Literally 'dividing point'.
