村八分

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 村八分(むらはちぶ) refers to ostracism through the severing of ties within a village or community.
• Basic usage: It is used to explain how a family or individual was excluded and the consequences of that exclusion.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Excluding and being excluded
  • 村八分にする describes excluding someone, while 村八分にされる takes the perspective of the person excluded.
  • 村八分にされた is a past passive expression meaning that someone was ostracized.
• Tone compared with 仲間外れ
  • Whereas 仲間外れ broadly means being left out of a group, 村八分 conveys a stronger sense of being pushed out of community relationships.