別べつ条じょう

べ

つ

じょ

う

JLPTN1Freq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

noun

something unusual; something wrong; mishap

Almost always used in negative expressions like 別条なく or 別条がない to mean 'nothing unusual/wrong' or 'no change for the worse'. The literal meaning 'different situation' is rare.

検けん査さの結

けっ

果か

、

体からだ

に

別べつ

条じょう

は

なかっ

た

。

The test results showed nothing wrong with my body.

事じ故こ後ごも意い識しきははっきりしており、命いのちに別べつ条じょうはないという。

He remained conscious after the accident and his life is reportedly not in danger.

Usage patterns

〈人ひと〉は別べつ条じょうなく〈動どう詞し〉someone does something without any mishap or trouble
彼かれは別べつ条じょうなく仕し事ごとを続つづけている。
He continues working without any problems.
〈事こと〉に別べつ条じょうはないthere is nothing wrong with (a condition, progress, etc.)
手しゅ術じゅつ後ごの経けい過かに別べつ条じょうはない。
There's nothing wrong with his recovery after the surgery.

Expressions

命いのちに別べつ状じょうはないnot life-threatening; life is not in danger

Kanji

別separate, branch off, diverge
状status quo, conditions, circumstances
条article, clause, counter for articles, clauses, paragraphs, etc.

Related words

異い状じょう
異状 is a general word for 'something abnormal' usable in many contexts, while 別条 is almost always restricted to the fixed phrase 別条がない meaning 'nothing wrong'.
異い常じょうN3
異常 is the common, neutral word for 'abnormality' used in both positive and negative sentences, whereas 別条 sounds more formal/written and appears mainly in negative constructions like 別条ない.

Written forms

別べつ条じょうUsage23%
Standard kanji form, especially in news and formal contexts.
別べつ状じょうUsage77%
Alternate kanji form; 別条 is more common in modern usage.

Etymology

Compound of 別 (different) and 条 (article, condition). The meaning shifted from 'different condition' to 'something unusual/wrong', now used almost exclusively in negative phrases.