Japanese symbol for “dichotomy”

二分法

にぶんほう

Romaji: nibunhou

dichotomy

In Japanese, dichotomy is 二分法, read にぶんほう (nibunhou).

Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.

Meanings

n dichotomy

Kanji and stroke order

二

two, two radical (no. 7)

on: ニ、ジ
kun: ふた、ふた.つ、ふたたび

2 strokes · JLPT 4

分

part, minute of time, segment

on: ブン、フン、ブ
kun: わ.ける、わ.け、わ.かれる、わ.かる

4 strokes · JLPT 4

法

method, law, rule

on: ホウ、ハッ、ホッ、フラン
kun: のり

8 strokes · JLPT 2

Other Japanese words for “dichotomy”

Word	Reading	Meaning
二股	ふたまた futamata	bifurcation; fork; branch

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

Word	Reading	Meaning
二つ	ふたつ futatsu	two
二宮	にぐう niguu	the Two Ise Shrines
二塁打	にるいだ niruida	two-base hit; double
二塁	にるい nirui	second base
二分	にぶん nibun	halving; dividing (into two parts); bisection
一石二鳥	いっせきにちょう issekinichou	killing two birds with one stone
自分	じぶん jibun	myself; yourself; oneself
部分	ぶぶん bubun	portion; section; part
方法	ほうほう houhou	method; way; manner

Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.