1.
branching; forking; ramification
The act or state of splitting into branches or divisions. Used literally for trees, roads, and rivers, and figuratively for organizations, topics, and processes that divide into sub-parts.
道が枝分かれしている。
The road branches off.
議論が枝分かれして、本題から逸れてしまった。
The discussion branched off and strayed from the main topic.
この川は下流で何本にも枝分かれして海に注いでいる。
This river branches into many streams downstream before flowing into the sea.
USAGE:
Used both as a noun (枝分かれ) and with する (枝分かれする). The word evokes the image of tree branches splitting.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 枝分かれする (to branch off)
- 枝分かれした道 (a forking road)
- 細かく枝分かれする (to branch into many fine divisions)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 分岐: branching, divergence — more formal and technical
- 分かれ道: a fork in the road — specifically for paths