1.
separated; apart from one another; scattered
The state of people (or things) who were once together being apart and unable to be together. Most often used of family or close friends who become separated.
家族が離れ離れになる。
The family becomes separated.
戦争で親子が離れ離れになった。
Parent and child were separated by the war.
進学で友人たちと離れ離れになったが、今も連絡は取り合っている。
I was separated from my friends when we went on to different schools, but we still keep in touch.
Formed by reduplicating 離れる (to be apart); the second 離れ voices to ばなれ. Almost always appears with なる or に, as in 離れ離れになる.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 離れ離れになる: to become separated
- 離れ離れに暮らす: to live apart
- 家族が離れ離れ: a family scattered apart
NOTE:
Carries an emotional, often sad nuance of people who wish to be together but cannot be.