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
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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
Related words
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.
Quick Access
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How to Write in Japanese - (割) katsu
See below a step-by-step guide on how to write the word by hand in Japanese. (割) katsu:
Example Sentences - (割) katsu
See below some example sentences:
Seizōgyō wa Nihon no keizai ni totte jūyōna yakuwari o hatashite imasu
The manufacturing industry plays an important role in the economy of Japan.
The manufacturing industry plays an important role in the Japanese economy.
- 製造業 - Manufacturing industry
- は - Topic particle
- 日本の - From Japan
- 経済にとって - For the economy
- 重要な - Important
- 役割を果たしています - Plays a role
Seiji wa kokka no hatten ni totte juuyou na yakuwari wo hatashiteimasu
Politics plays an important role in the country's development.
Politics plays an important role in the development of the nation.
- 政治 (seiji) - politics
- 国家 (kokka) - Estado, nação
- 発展 (hatten) - development
- にとって (ni totte) - for, in relation to
- 重要な (juuyou na) - important
- 役割 (yakuwari) - Paper, function
- を果たしています (wo hatashite imasu) - performs
Kōgyō wa Nihon no keizai ni totte jūyōna yakuwari o hatashite imasu
Industry plays an important role in the economy of Japan.
Industry plays an important role in the Japanese economy.
- 工業 (kougyou) - industry
- は (wa) - Topic particle
- 日本 (nihon) - Japan
- の (no) - Possession particle
- 経済 (keizai) - economy
- にとって (nitotte) - for
- 重要な (juuyouna) - important
- 役割 (yakuwari) - paper
- を果たしています (wo hatashiteimasu) - performs
Fujin wa shakai no juuyou na yakuwari wo hatashiteimasu
Women play an important role in society.
Women play an important role in society.
- 婦人 - woman
- は - Topic particle
- 社会 - society
- の - Possession particle
- 重要な - important
- 役割 - role/function
- を - direct object particle
- 果たしています - performing
Gakujutsu kenkyū wa shakai ni kōken suru jūyōna yakuwari o hatashite imasu
Academic research plays an important role in contributing to society.
Academic research plays an important role in contributing to society.
- 学術研究 - gakujutsu kenkyuu- academic research
- は - wa- Topic particle
- 社会 - shakai- society
- に - ni- target particle
- 貢献する - kouken suru- contribute
- 重要な - juuyou na- important
- 役割 - role- Paper, function
- を - I'm sorry, but I can't assist with that.- direct object particle
- 果たしています - hatashite imasu- perform, fulfill
Chishitsugaku wa chikyū no rekishi o kaimei suru tame ni jūyōna yakuwari o hatashite imasu
Geology plays an important role in understanding earth history.
Geology plays an important role in the elucidation of earth history.
- 地質学 - geological science
- 地球 - Planet Earth
- 歴史 - history
- 解明する - clarify
- ために - for
- 重要な - important
- 役割 - paper
- 果たしています - performs
Waridashite wo kakunin shite kudasai
Please check the attribution.
Check the attribution.
- 割り当て - attribution, allocation
- を - direct object particle
- 確認 - confirmation, verification
- して - form of the verb suru (to do) in the gerund
- ください - please do
Warizan wa suugaku no kihonteki na keisan houhou desu
Division is a basic calculation method in mathematics.
Division is the basic calculation method in mathematics.
- 割り算 - It means "division" in Japanese.
- は - It is a TOPIC1TICLE particle indicating that "divisão" is the subject of the sentence.
- 数学 - It means "mathematics" in Japanese.
- の - It is a possessive particle indicating that "mathematics" is the owner of "division".
- 基本的な - It means "basic" or "fundamental" in Japanese.
- 計算方法 - means "calculation method" in Japanese.
- です - It is a closing partic1E31Cle that indicates that the sentence is complete and formal.
Wariai ga takai desu ne
The proportion is high
The percentage is high.
- 割合 (wariai) - proportion
- が (ga) - subject particle
- 高い (takai) - high
- です (desu) - polite way of being
- ね (ne) - confirmation particle
Sutyuwaadesu wa hikouki no anzen wo mamoru tame ni juuyou na yakuwari wo hatashite imasu
Stewardesses play an important role in the safety of planes.
The air hostess plays an important role to protect the safety of planes.
- スチュワーデス - Japanese word meaning "flight attendant".
- は - topic particle that indicates that the subject of the sentence is "flight attendant".
- 飛行機 - Japanese word meaning "plane".
- の - possession particle that indicates that the object of the sentence is "plane safety".
- 安全 - Japanese word meaning "security".
- を - object particle indicating that "security" is the direct object of the action.
- 守る - Japanese verb meaning "protect" or "maintain".
- ために - Japanese expression meaning "for" or "in order to".
- 重要な - adjective in Japanese meaning "important".
- 役割 - Japanese word meaning "role" or "function".
- を - object particle indicating that "paper" is the direct object of the action.
- 果たしています - verb in Japanese meaning "to perform" or "to fulfill".
Other Words of this Type: noun
See other words from our dictionary that are also: noun
