仲間外(なかまはず)れ

なかまはずれ
noun
exclusion from a group, being left out
informalcolloquialsociety
1. exclusion from a group, ostracism
The state of being left out or excluded from a group; social isolation imposed by peers.
彼女(かのじょ)は仲間外(なかまはず)れにされている。
She is being excluded from the group.
仲間外(なかまはず)れにされるのが怖(こわ)い。
I'm afraid of being left out.
転校(てんこう)直後(ちょくご)は仲間外(なかまはず)れのように感(かん)じた。
Right after transferring schools, I felt like an outsider.
仲間外(なかまはず)れはいじめの一種(いっしゅ)だ。
Exclusion is a form of bullying.

仲間外(なかまはず)れ describes being excluded from a peer group.

Etymology

仲間(なかま) (peer group, companions) + 外(はず)れ (being off, deviation) - being outside the group.

Common collocations

  • 仲間外(なかまはず)れにする - to exclude someone
  • 仲間外(なかまはず)れにされる - to be excluded (passive)
  • 仲間外(なかまはず)れにあう - to experience exclusion

Usage

Often discussed in the context of school bullying (いじめ) in Japan. Deliberate exclusion from a group is considered a form of いじめ. The term emphasizes the social pain of not belonging.

Similar words

  • 仲間外(なかまはず)れ vs. いじめ: 仲間外(なかまはず)れ is a specific type of いじめ (exclusion-based)
  • 仲間外(なかまはず)れ vs. 疎外(そがい): 仲間外(なかまはず)れ is colloquial, often about peers; 疎外(そがい) is more formal/abstract (alienation)
  • 仲間外(なかまはず)れ vs. 孤立(こりつ): 孤立(こりつ) is being cut off from others for any reason (including geography or circumstance); 仲間外(なかまはず)れ is specifically excluded *by* a group

Related Words

Antonym: 仲間入(なかまい)り (joining a group)
Related: いじめ (bullying)
Related: 仲間(なかま) (companion, peer group)
Related: 疎外(そがい) (alienation (formal))
Related: 孤立(こりつ) (isolation)
Compare: 村八分(むらはちぶ) (ostracism)
general
Added 2026.1.18 16:42 · Revised 2026.10.2 4:41
06500/06835_nakamahazure