clique

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: The on reading is ばつ, and no kun reading is listed. It has 14 strokes. It appears in words for factions within organizations and business groups.
• Basic usage: 派閥 is read はばつ and 財閥 is read ざいばつ.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 派閥 / 財閥
  • 派閥 means faction or clique and is read はばつ. It refers to a faction within an organization.
  • 組織内の派閥争いが意思決定を遅らせた。 means “Factional conflict within the organization delayed decisions.”
  • 財閥 means financial conglomerate or business group and is read ざいばつ. It refers to a business group that influences industry and the economy.
  • 歴史の資料で財閥が産業に与えた影響を調べた。 means “We studied the effect of large business groups on industry in historical materials.”