Translation and Meaning of: 割 - katsu

If you are studying Japanese or are curious about the language, you may have come across the word 割[かつ]. It may seem simple at first glance, but it carries interesting meanings and uses in daily life in Japan. In this article, we will explore what this word represents, its origin, how it is written, and even practical examples of usage. If you truly want to learn Japanese, understanding terms like this is essential – and Suki Nihongo is here to help!

The meaning and usage of 割[かつ]

The word 割[かつ] is a kanji that can be read as "katsu" and is associated with ideas like division, percentage, or even advantage. One of its most common uses is in expressions like 割引[わりびき] (discount), where 割 indicates a fraction of the original value. For example, 二割引 means a 20% discount.

Additionally, 割 also appears in informal contexts to indicate that something is advantageous or "worth it." In Japan, it's common to hear phrases like 割がいい (katsu ga ii) to say that a situation is favorable. This usage reflects how the Japanese language connects mathematics and everyday assessment.

The origin and writing of the kanji 割

The kanji 割 is composed of the radical 刂 (right side, related to cutting) and the component 害 (which originally represented damage). Together, they convey the idea of "dividing" or "separating." This construction makes sense when we think about its use for percentages and discounts – after all, these are situations that involve "parts" of a whole.

It's worth noting that 割 is not one of the most complex kanjis, but its reading can vary. While かつ is one of the kun'yomi readings, it can also be read as わり in compound words. To memorize it, a tip is to associate the radical 刂 with something being "cut" into pieces – this makes it easier to remember the meaning of division.

How 割[かつ] appears in Japanese culture

In Japan, the notion of "dividing" is present in various aspects of daily life, and 割 is part of that. Restaurants, for example, use 割り勘 [わりかん] to indicate that the bill will be split equally among the customers. This term is so common that it even became a topic of discussions about social etiquette in the country.

Another interesting use is in expressions like 割に合わない (katsu ni awanai), which means "not worth it." This type of construction shows how the Japanese language uses 割 to evaluate situations practically. If you want to sound more natural when speaking, paying attention to these details makes all the difference.

Vocabulary

Expand your vocabulary with related words:

Synonyms and similar words

• 分割 (bunkatsu) - Division, separation
• 分ける (wakeru) - Divide, separate (act of dividing)
• 切り分ける (kiriwakeru) - Cutting and dividing, segregation by cut
• 分割する (bunkatsu suru) - Perform division, divide
• 分けること (wakeru koto) - Ato de dividir
• 切り分けること (kiriwakeru koto) - Action of cutting and dividing
• 分割処理 (bunkatsu shori) - Processo de divisão
• 分割作業 (bunkatsu sagyou) - Division work
• 分割操作 (bunkatsu sousa) - Operação de divisão
• 分割機能 (bunkatsu kinou) - Division function
• 分割機能付き (bunkatsu kinou tsuki) - With division function
• 分割可能 (bunkatsu kanou) - Possible to divide, divisible
• 分割可能な (bunkatsu kanou na) - Capable of being divided
• 分割された (bunkatsu sareta) - Divided (state of division)
• 分割されたもの (bunkatsu sareta mono) - Divided thing
• 分割されたファイル (bunkatsu sareta fairu) - Split file
• 分割された画面 (bunkatsu sareta gamen) - Split Screen
• 分割された領域 (bunkatsu sareta ryouiki) - Divided area
• 分割される (bunkatsu sareru) - Ser dividido
• 分割分散 (bunkatsu bunsan) - Division and dispersion
• 分割配信 (bunkatsu haishin) - Split transmission
• 分割転送 (bunkatsu tensou) - Split transfer
• 分割結合 (bunkatsu ketsugou) - Division and combination
• 分割結合する (bunkatsu ketsugou suru) - Perform division and combination
• 分割結合処理 (bunkatsu ketsugou shori) - Division and combination process
• 分割結合作業 (bunkatsu ketsugou sagyou) - Work on division and combination
• 分割結合操作 (bunkatsu ketsugou sousa) - Division and combination operation

割

Romaji: katsu
Kana: かつ
Type: noun
L: -

Translation / Meaning: to divide; cut; depart in half; to separate; to divide; to tear apart; to break; to crack; smash; dilute

Meaning in English: divide;cut;halve;separate;split;rip;break;crack;smash;dilute

Definition: "Wari" is a verb that means to divide something into numbers or to discount the price.

Example Sentences - (割) katsu

See below some example sentences:

炊事は家事の中でも重要な役割を担っています。

Suiji wa kaji no naka demo juuyou na yakuwari wo ninatte imasu

Cooking is an important role among household chores.

Cooking plays an important role in housework.

• 炊事 - Food preparation, kitchen
• 家事 - Housework
• 中でも - Among them, especially
• 重要な - Important
• 役割を担っています - Plays a role

官僚は政府の中で重要な役割を果たしています。

Kanryou wa seifu no naka de juuyou na yakuwari wo hatashite imasu

Bureaucrats play an important role in government.

Bureaucrats play an important role in government.

• 官僚 - bureaucrats
• は - Topic particle
• 政府 - government
• の - Possession particle
• 中で - In the middle of
• 重要な - important
• 役割を - Paper, function
• 果たしています - perform

ビジネスは世界中で重要な役割を果たしています。

Bijinesu wa sekaijuu de juuyou na yakuwari o hatashite imasu

Business plays an important role all over the world.

Business plays an important role all over the world.

• ビジネス - katakana word meaning "business"
• は - Topic particle
• 世界中 - an expression that means "all over the world"
• で - Particle that indicates the place where something happens
• 重要な - Adjective meaning "important"
• 役割 - noun meaning "role" or "function"
• を - direct object particle
• 果たしています - verb meaning "to perform" or "to fulfill", conjugated in the present affirmative

養護は大切な役割です。

Yōgo wa taisetsu na yakuwari desu

Care and protection are important roles.

Nursing is an important role.

• 養護 (yougo) - care, protection
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 大切 (taisetsu) - important, valuable
• な (na) - adjectival particle
• 役割 (yakuwari) - Paper, function
• です (desu) - polite way of being

防衛は国の重要な役割です。

Bouei wa kuni no juuyou na yakuwari desu

Defense is an important role of the country.

Defense is an important role in the country.

• 防衛 - defense
• は - Topic particle
• 国 - country
• の - Possession particle
• 重要な - important
• 役割 - Paper, function
• です - Verb to be/estar in the present

割引きがあると嬉しいです。

Waribiki ga aru to ureshii desu

I'm happy if there is a discount.

• 割引き - discount
• が - subject particle
• ある - verb "to exist"
• と - condition particle
• 嬉しい - adjective "happy"
• です - Verb "to be" in polite form

運輸業は国の経済にとって重要な役割を果たしています。

Un'yu gyō wa kuni no keizai ni totte jūyōna yakuwari o hatashite imasu

The transport industry plays an important role in the national economy.

The transport industry plays an important role in the national economy.

• 運輸業 - Transportation industry
• は - Topic particle
• 国 - country
• の - Possession particle
• 経済 - economy
• にとって - for
• 重要な - important
• 役割 - paper
• を果たしています - performs

血液は身体の中で重要な役割を果たしています。

Ketsueki wa karada no naka de juuyou na yakuwari o hatashite imasu

Blood plays an important role in the body.

Blood plays an important role in the body.

• 血液 (ketsueki) - blood
• 身体 (shintai) - body
• 重要 (juuyou) - important
• 役割 (yakuwari) - role/function
• 果たす (hatasu) - perform/fulfill
• しています (shiteimasu) - Is doing

血管は体内の血液を運ぶ重要な役割を果たしています。

Kekkan wa tainai no ketsueki o hakobu juuyou na yakuwari o hatashite imasu

The blood vessels play an important role in transporting blood throughout the body.

Blood vessels play an important role in transporting blood in the body.

• 血管 (ketsukan) - blood vessel
• 体内 (tainai) - inside the body
• 血液 (ketsueki) - blood
• 運ぶ (hakobu) - transport
• 重要な (juuyou na) - important
• 役割 (yakuwari) - role/function
• 果たしています (hatashite imasu) - performing

行政は国家の重要な役割です。

Gyōsei wa kokka no jūyōna yakuwari desu

Administration is an important role of the state.

The government plays an important role in the nation.

• 行政 (gyousei) - administration
• 国家 (kokka) - state
• 重要な (juuyou na) - important
• 役割 (yakuwari) - Paper, function
• です (desu) - verb to be"