The Meaning of kobetsu [個別] In Japanese
個別
こべつ
Romaji: kobetsu
N3
What does 個別 mean?
Translation and Meaning
individual, separate, particular
Definition
個別 means individual or separate, referring to items or persons considered separately rather than as a group. It is used to describe handling or treatment that treats each item or person on its own.
Type
Noun (名詞) in Japanese
Stroke Order
Meanings
- individual, separate: emphasizes treating each item or person on its own
- case-by-case usage: in contexts like policy or logistics, indicating tailored approaches
- as a noun or as a modifier via の: use in 個別の事情 or 個別に
Etymology
From kanji 個 (こ/ko) + 別 (べつ/betsu), combining the semantic cores ‘individual’ and ‘separate’ to yield the concept kobetsu (こべつ).
Composition
- 個: a single item or unit; used as a counter for small objects
- 別: separation, distinction; indicates something different or set apart
- Together they express the idea of separate, individual units or cases treated on their own
Usage
Used in formal and technical registers to indicate actions or considerations applied to each item or person. Common patterns include 個別に対応する, 個別の事情, and 個別化, reflecting tailored or one-by-one treatment in business, education, medicine, and policy contexts.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: imagine a row of tiny boxes, each labeled and handled separately; kobetsu literally groups items as ‘one by one’ in a way that makes each unit stand out.
Variations
- それぞれの — sorezore no (each, individually)
- 別々の — betsubetsu no (separate)
- 一つずつ — hitotsu zutsu (one by one)
- 全体 — zentai (the whole) as antonym
Example Phrases
-
店員は 客の 要望を 個別に 聞いた。ten’in wa kyaku no yobou o kobetsu ni kiita.The clerk listened to the customer’s requests individually.Lista:
- 店員は (ten’in wa) – the clerk
- 客の (kyaku no) – customer’s
- 要望を (yobou o) – requests
- 個別に (kobetsu ni) – individually
- 聞いた (kiita) – listened
Here, 「個別に」 functions as an adverb modifying 聞いた, meaning ‘individually / separately’ in this context.
