差別（さべつ、sabetsu）
- discrimination

The Japanese word 差別, pronounced さべつ (sabetsu), means discrimination, distinction, or prejudice. It refers to the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people or things, especially on the grounds of race, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability, or other characteristics. It implies treating someone or something unfairly because of their group affiliation or perceived differences. The word emphasizes the act of making a 差別, and the negative consequences that arise as a result. The act of 差別 can manifest in various forms, including unequal access to opportunities, verbal abuse, physical violence, or systemic disadvantages.

⚫︎人種差別 Translation: Racial discrimination ⚫︎年齢差別 Translation: Age discrimination ⚫︎性別差別 Translation: Gender discrimination

This word is used in formal and informal contexts to describe situations of unfair treatment based on various factors. ⚫︎It is crucial to understand that using the word 差別 implies a serious issue, and therefore, should be used when addressing instances of discrimination. ⚫︎You can use it to describe acts, policies, attitudes, or situations that are 差別的 (discriminatory). ⚫︎It is often used in discussions about human rights, social justice, and equality.

⚫︎The word 差別 is primarily written using Kanji: 差別. ⚫︎The hiragana spelling is さべつ. ⚫︎The okurigana (the suffix hiragana) remains consistent, so there are no variations.

⚫︎偏見 (へんけん) - Prejudice ⚫︎不公平 (ふこうへい) - Unfairness/Inequity ⚫︎区別 (くべつ) - Distinction (can be used but doesn't always carry the negative connotation of 差別)

⚫︎平等 (びょうどう) - Equality ⚫︎公平 (こうへい) - Fairness ⚫︎公正 (こうせい) - Justice/Impartiality

彼は、外国人に対する差別をなくすために活動している。 ・Translation: He is working to eliminate discrimination against foreigners. ・Explanation: This sentence illustrates the use of 差別 to describe discriminatory actions toward a specific group of people (foreigners).

その会社は女性に対する差別的な待遇をしていたことが問題になった。 ・Translation: The company's discriminatory treatment of women became a problem. ・Explanation: This sentence uses the adjective form 差別的 to describe the nature of the company’s treatment toward women, specifically highlighting its discriminatory nature.

The word 差別 is a Sino-Japanese word, meaning it was borrowed from Chinese. The kanji 差 means "difference" or "distinction," and the kanji 別 means "separation" or "to distinguish." The combination of these characters in 差別 therefore reflects the idea of making a distinction or dividing people into groups based on some perceived differences, which ultimately leads to unfair treatment or discrimination.