分 母(ぶんぼ)

ぶんぼ

noun

denominator

1. denominator

The bottom number in a fraction, which indicates how many equal parts the whole is divided into. Also used figuratively to mean the base or total number in a ratio.

分母(ぶんぼ)が同(おな)じ分数(ぶんすう)を足(た)す。

Add fractions with the same denominator.

分母(ぶんぼ)を揃(そろ)えてから計算(けいさん)してください。

Please find a common denominator before calculating.

合格率(ごうかくりつ)の分母(ぶんぼ)には欠席者(けっせきしゃ)も含(ふく)まれている。

The denominator of the pass rate includes absentees as well.

Usage

分母(ぶんぼ) is a basic math term learned in elementary school. Beyond mathematics, it is used in everyday language to discuss rates and ratios — for example, when discussing what counts in the "total" for a percentage.

Common collocations

分母(ぶんぼ)を揃(そろ)える (to find a common denominator)
分母(ぶんぼ)が大(おお)きい (the denominator is large)
分母(ぶんぼ)を増(ふ)やす (to increase the denominator)

Related words

分子(ぶんし) is the numerator (the top number in a fraction). Note that 分子(ぶんし) also means "molecule" in a scientific context.

Related Words

Antonym: 分子(ぶんし) (numerator)

Compare: 通分(つうぶん) (finding a common denominator)

general

Added 2026.3.9 9:40 · Revised 2026.9.4 21:29

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