分ける
wakeru[β̞a̠ke̞ɾɯ̟]
The Japanese verb for 'split' is 分ける (wakeru).
分ける is used to mean dividing or splitting something along a more or less straight line. It is also commonly used in the context of 'sharing' or 'dividing up' resources, such as food or money, among a group of people.
Meaning: divide along a more or less straight line (verb)
Which one should you use?
分ける is a transitive verb, meaning it is used when an agent is performing the action of splitting something into parts. In contrast, the intransitive form 分かれる is used when something splits or divides itself.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
If you wish to describe something that is splitting or dividing on its own, you should use the intransitive form 分かれる.
How do you pronounce it?
wakeru
Did you know?
- The kanji for 分ける, the character 分, is also used in the word for 'minute' (fun/pun), showing how the concept of 'splitting' time into small units is embedded in the language.
- The verb 分ける is used to describe the act of 'splitting' a bill at a restaurant, but the Japanese word for the actual 'split payment' is 割り勘, which combines the words for 'divide' and 'calculation'.
- The phrase 分かれる道 (wakareru michi) is often used metaphorically in Japanese to describe 'split paths' or two lives that have gone in completely different directions.
Examples in context
- クッキー１２枚を４人で分けるんだから、１人３枚だろ。Twelve cookies are split between four people, so that's three cookies each.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use 分ける when dividing food items among people.Tatoeba #1189169 by bunbuku, translation #10109460 by deltadave
- 分割の方法を検討しています。We are considering methods of splitting.
- 友達と費用を分けた。I split the cost with my friend.
- 学生はグループに分かれた。The students split into groups.
- 道は二つに分かれている。The road splits into two.
- このオレンジを二つに切りましょう。Let's split this orange in half.
- ケーキを半分に分ける。Kēki o hanbun ni wakeru.Divide the cake in half.
Example conversation
Yui and Yota are sharing a pizza.
- 結衣 Yuiピザをどうやって分ける？Piza o dou yatte wakeru?How should we split the pizza?
- 陽太 Yota半分に分ければいいと思うよ。Hanbun ni wakereba ii to omou yo.I think we should just split it in half.
- 結衣 Yuiじゃあ、私が切って分けるね。Jaa, watashi ga kitte wakeru ne.Then, I'll cut it and split it.
- 陽太 Yotaありがとう、結衣。Arigatou, Yui.Thanks, Yui.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry 分ける, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
