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N4

Kanji 別: meanings, readings, and example words.

2 min read

Kanji 別: separate, branch off, diverge, fork, another, extra, specially

Key takeaways

Kanji 別: separate, branch off, diverge, fork, another, extra, specially. Readings and core meaning.

See vocabulary and examples below.

Kanji at a glance

N4

Meaning

separatebranch offdivergeforkanotherextraspecially

On reading

ベツ

Kun reading

わか.れるわ.ける

Radical

Core meaning / core image

Core meaning: 別

separate, branch off, diverge, fork, another, extra, specially

Kanji structure breakdown

Structure breakdown

口 + 勹 + 刂

Mnemonic story

Mnemonic story

While giving instructions with your mouth (口), use a knife (刂) to cut open a wrapped bundle (勹) to distinguish its contents. This act of dividing also represents people parting ways, as in a farewell.

On'yomi and kun'yomi

On reading

ベツ
  • 一別いちべつ

    parting / farewell

  • 個別こべつ

    individual / particular case

  • 格別かくべつ

    special / exceptional / outstanding

  • 性別せいべつ

    gender / sex

  • 送別そうべつ

    farewell / send-off

  • 別々べつべつ

    separately / individually

  • 区別くべつ

    distinction / difference / classification

  • 差別さべつ

    discrimination / unfair treatment / distinction

Kun reading

わか.れる
  • 別れるわかれる

    to part / to separate

Commonly used words

  • 一別
    いちべつ

    parting / farewell

  • 個別
    こべつ

    individual / particular case

  • 格別
    かくべつ

    special / exceptional / outstanding

  • 性別
    せいべつ

    gender / sex

  • 送別
    そうべつ

    farewell / send-off

  • 別々
    べつべつ

    separately / individually

  • 別れる
    わかれる

    to part / to separate

Example sentences

Example 1

友達と一の時が来た。

Translation

The time to part with my friends has come.

Example 2

駅で一してから寂しくなった。

Translation

I felt lonely after parting at the station.

Example 3

に相談してください。

Translation

Please consult individually.

Example 4

この問題は個に対応します。

Translation

We will handle this issue individually.

Kanji 別: separate, branch off, diverge, fork, another, extra, specially | Daily Nihongo