Readings: カツ (Onyomi), わ.る, わり, わ.れる (Kunyomi)
Meaning: divide, split, separate, proportion, discount, break, crack
The kanji 割 combines the radical 刀 (katana/sword), representing a knife or cutting tool, with 害 (gai), which originally depicted a house being cut or damaged. Together, they convey the idea of cutting, dividing, or splitting.
View JLPT N3 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 割 is written with 12 strokes. Start with the two horizontal strokes, then the vertical, then the box-like structure, followed by the left-side radical 刀, and finishing with the final strokes inside and to the right.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 刀 |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 12 |
| JLPT Level | N3 |
| Grade | 6 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- カツ (Katsu)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- わる (waru)
- われる (wareru)
- わり (wari)
Common Words Using 割
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 分割 | ぶんかつ | division, splitting |
| 割愛 | かつあい | omitting with regret, skipping |
| 割拠 | かっきょ | being divided and ruling (e.g., warlords) |
| 割譲 | かつじょう | cession (of territory) |
| 割線 | かっせん | secant line (mathematics) |
| 割賦 | かっぷ | installment (payment) |
| 割烹 | かっぽう | cooking, especially Japanese cuisine |
| 割裂 | かっれつ | splitting, tearing apart |
| 割腹 | かっぷく | hara-kiri, seppuku |
| 割拠主義 | かっきょしゅぎ | regionalism, separatism |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 割る | わる | to divide, to break |
| 割れる | われる | to break, to crack (intransitive) |
| 割合 | わりあい | proportion, rate |
| 割引 | わりびき | discount |
| 割り勘 | わりかん | splitting the bill |
| 割り箸 | わりばし | disposable chopsticks |
| 割り当て | わりあて | allotment, assignment |
| 割り込む | わりこむ | to cut in, to interrupt |
| 割増し | わりまし | extra charge, premium |
| 割と | わりと | relatively, comparatively |
Example Sentences
Japanese: グラスを割ってしまった。
Kana: グラスをわってしまった。
Romaji: Gurasu wo watte shimatta.
English: I accidentally broke the glass.
Japanese: 皿が割れてしまった。
Kana: さらがわれてしまった。
Romaji: Sara ga warete shimatta.
English: The plate broke.
Japanese: リンゴを半分に割る。
Kana: リンゴをはんぶんにわる。
Romaji: Ringo wo hanbun ni waru.
English: To cut an apple in half.
Japanese: このスーパーは割引が多い。
Kana: このスーパーはわりびきがおおい。
Romaji: Kono suupaa wa waribiki ga ooi.
English: This supermarket has many discounts.
Japanese: 割合に暑い日だ。
Kana: わりあいにあついひだ。
Romaji: Wariai ni atsui hi da.
English: It’s a relatively hot day.
Japanese: 友達と割り勘にした。
Kana: ともだちとわりかんにした。
Romaji: Tomodachi to warikan ni shita.
English: I split the bill with my friends.
Japanese: 割り箸を使いますか。
Kana: わりばしをつかいますか。
Romaji: Waribashi wo tsukaimasu ka?
English: Will you use disposable chopsticks?
Japanese: 列に割り込むのはやめなさい。
Kana: れつにわりこむのはやめなさい。
Romaji: Retsu ni warikomu no wa yamenasai.
English: Stop cutting in line.
Japanese: この仕事は彼に割り当てられた。
Kana: このしごとはかれにわりあてられた。
Romaji: Kono shigoto wa kare ni wariaterareta.
English: This job was assigned to him.
Japanese: 分割払いで購入した。
Kana: ぶんかつばらいでこうにゅうした。
Romaji: Bunkatsu barai de kounyuu shita.
English: I purchased it with installment payments.
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