noun
hamlet; small community; subunit of a village
Refers to a small settlement or a distinct subsection of a village, often in rural contexts. The term is sensitive and can carry historical connotations; in modern neutral usage, it is mainly a geographical or administrative term.
山間の小さな部落に住んでいる。
I live in a small hamlet in the mountains.
この地域にはいくつかの部落が点
Several small communities are scattered across this area.
noun
burakumin area; historically discriminated community
Historically refers to areas where burakumin (outcaste communities) lived. This usage is highly sensitive and often avoided in polite conversation; when necessary, euphemisms like 同和地区 are sometimes used. The term itself is not inherently derogatory but carries heavy historical weight.
部落差別は今も社会問題として残っている。
Discrimination against burakumin areas remains a social issue today.
彼は部落出身であることを隠さずに生きている。
He lives openly without hiding that he is from a burakumin community.