離(はな)れ離(ばな)れ

はなればなれ
noun
separated; apart; scattered
society
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(かぞく)が離(はな)れ離(ばな)れになる。
The family becomes separated.
戦争(せんそう)で親子(おやこ)が離(はな)れ離(ばな)れになった。
Parent and child were separated by the war.
進学(しんがく)で友人(ゆうじん)たちと離(はな)れ離(ばな)れになったが、今(いま)も連絡(れんらく)は取(と)り合(あ)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(はな)れる (to be apart); the second 離(はな)れ voices to ばなれ. Almost always appears with なる or に, as in 離(はな)れ離(ばな)れになる.

Common collocations

Usage

Carries an emotional, often sad nuance of people who wish to be together but cannot be.

general
Added 2026.5.21 12:11 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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