境界線(きょうかいせん)

きょうかいせん
noun
boundary line, borderline
1. boundary line, border, dividing line
A line that marks the limit or edge between two areas, territories, or categories. Used both literally for physical borders and figuratively for abstract distinctions.
境界線(きょうかいせん)を引(ひ)く。
To draw a boundary line.
仕事(しごと)と私生活(しせいかつ)の境界線(きょうかいせん)があいまいになっている。
The boundary between work and private life has become blurred.
This river serves as the boundary between the two prefectures, and the other bank is already the next prefecture.

Usage

Used for both physical boundaries (between countries, properties, regions) and abstract ones (between categories, concepts, roles). The figurative use is very common in modern Japanese.

Common collocations

  • 境界線(きょうかいせん)を引(ひ)く: to draw a boundary line
  • 境界線(きょうかいせん)を越(こ)える: to cross a boundary
  • 境界線(きょうかいせん)があいまい: the boundary is unclear
  • 境界線(きょうかいせん)上(じょう): on the borderline