Regarding classification: 分類、類別、部類、etc


So in trying to make my own notes for things, I wanted to make use of the word
"classifications". Not the act of classification, but rather the plural of the
idea of "a classification", as in, "Animals are a classification of living
things". As I see it, it's similar to using the word class, group or category,
but I find it carries less of an objective connotation. Kind of like saying
数学的 instead of 数理的. Both mean "mathematical", but the former is mathematical
within the scope of _our_ study of math, whereas the latter seems to encompass
things beyond the scope of our study (ex. 数理的思考、the idea of mathematical
thinking, see
<https://www.kitasato-u.ac.jp/sci/resea/buturi/hisenkei/sogo/suuri.pdf>).

So back to the point, the main words I've been able to find that relate to
classification are 分類、類別 and 部類. The former two seem to imply the act of
classification as far as I can see, and I don't know if they can be used the
way I'm looking to use classification. As for 部類, it looks at first glance
that it's similar to class/group/category, with the more objective
connotation. Maybe the lines are blurred in translation, but is there any word
more specific to what I'm looking for? Can't find one myself.

Thanks!




The safest choice is 分類, which is a noun that also works as a suru-verb.

>   * 哺乳類の分類 classifications of mammalians
>   * 哺乳類を分類する to classify mammalians
>

類別 seems to have [a pure mathematical
definition](http://hooktail.sub.jp/algebra/Klassierung/), but it's relatively
uncommon. According to a dictionary, 類別 refers to categorizing thing according
to an existing classification criterion. It works as a suru-verb.

部類 does not work as a suru-verb, and it doesn't sound technical in modern
Japanese. Rather than classifying something in a strict manner, people
typically use this word like so:

>   * 1万円なら安い部類に入る。
>   * そのホテルは高級な部類だろう。
>   * まあまあ美人の部類に属する人
>

So English equivalent is perhaps something like "You can call it ～".

There is also [分別](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/q/40829/5010).

