Japanese meaning of 四分五裂
Reading:
しぶんごれつ (shibun goretsu)
English Translation:
Breaking into pieces; disunity
Meaning & Cultural Context
Meaning:
Breaking into parts and scattering; complete disunity and disorder.
いくつにも分裂し、まとまりがないこと。
Cultural Context:
Appears in political commentary (party factionalism), corporate case studies (departmental conflicts), and historical narratives (collapse of alliances).
政治評論（党派抗争）、企業事例（部署間対立）、歴史物語（同盟崩壊）などで用いられる。
Grammar & Learning Points
Grammar Point
• Noun phrase for complete disunity; often with “に陥る.”
Trap for English Speakers
May be mistaken as meaning being physically scattered.
Example
Basic Example
組織が四分五裂してしまった。
The organization broke into pieces.
Applied Example
チームは意見の対立で四分五裂し、試合どころではなかった。
The team fell into disunity from clashing opinions, making the match impossible to play.