Usage patterns 〈 人ひと 〉 が 閥ばつ を 作つく る for someone to form a clique/faction
The younger employees started forming a clique within the company.
〈 場ば 所しょ 〉 に 閥ばつ がある for there to be factionalism within an organization
There has long been factionalism within that university.
閥ばつ に 属ぞく する to belong to a clique/faction
He belongs to a powerful faction.
Kanji 閥 clique, lineage, pedigree Related words 派閥 is the standard word for a political or organizational faction, while 閥 is a more abstract, often suffix-like term for any exclusive group.
一派 refers to a distinct school, sect, or faction with a shared doctrine or leader, whereas 閥 emphasizes closed, self-serving ties like shared background or interest.
グループ is a neutral word for any group, while 閥 specifically implies an exclusive, often influential clique bound by loyalty or interest.
Word family· 12 clique; faction
military clique; military faction
academic clique; old school tie
lineage; pedigree; family background
zaibatsu; financial conglomerate; industrial group · rich person
Show 7 more Show fewer party faction; party clique
clan-based factionalism; clan favoritism
clan; clique; faction
clan; family clique; marriage-based faction
non-factional; unaffiliated with a political faction
Satsuma clan; Satsuma faction
Zhejiang financial clique; Sekko Zaibatsu
Etymology The kanji 閥 originally referred to a powerful family or clan. In modern Japanese, it has broadened to mean any exclusive group or faction, often with a negative connotation of in-group favoritism.
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