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:

このパンを二つに割ってください。

Kono pan wo futatsu ni waratte kudasai

Please divide this bread into two pieces.

Divide this bread in two.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this"
• パン - noun meaning "bread"
• を - Particle that marks the direct object of the sentence
• 二つ - numeral meaning "two"
• に - particle indicating the destination or place where the action takes place
• 割って - verb "割る" conjugated in the imperative, meaning "to divide"
• ください - verb "くださる" conjugated in the imperative, meaning "please"

オートメーションは生産性を向上させるために重要な役割を果たしています。

Ootomeeshon wa seisansei wo koujou saseru tame ni juuyou na yakuwari wo hatashite imasu

Automation plays an important role in improving productivity.

Automation plays an important role in improving productivity.

• オートメーション - automation
• は - Topic particle
• 生産性 - Productivity
• を - Direct object particle
• 向上させる - Improve
• ために - For
• 重要な - Important
• 役割 - Paper
• を果たしています - Perform

議長は会議を主宰する役割を持っています。

Gichou wa kaigi wo shusai suru yakuwari wo motteimasu

The president has the role of leading the meeting.

• 議長 - President
• は - Topic particle
• 会議 - Meeting
• を - Direct object particle
• 主宰する - Preside, lead
• 役割 - Paper, function
• を - Direct object particle
• 持っています - Land, possess

ガラスは割れやすいです。

Garasu wa wareyasui desu

Glass is fragile and breaks easily.

Glass is easy to break.

• ガラス (garasu) - glass
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 割れ (ware) - break
• やすい (yasui) - easy to
• です (desu) - is

このガラスは割れる可能性がある。

Kono garasu wa wareru kanōsei ga aru

This glass window has the possibility of breaking.

This glass can break.

• この - demonstrative pronoun that means "this" or "this here"
• ガラス - noun that means "glass"
• は - topic particle that indicates that the subject of the sentence is "this glass"
• 割れる - verb in the potential form that means "can break"
• 可能性 - noun meaning "possibility"
• が - subject particle that indicates that "the possibility of breaking" is the subject of the sentence
• ある - verb that means "exists"

メディアは情報を伝える重要な役割を果たしています。

Mēdia wa jōhō o tsutaeru jūyōna yakuwari o hatashite imasu

The media plays an important role in communicating information.

• メディア (Media) - media
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 情報 (jouhou) - information
• を (wo) - object particle
• 伝える (tsutaeru) - transmit
• 重要な (juuyouna) - important
• 役割 (yakuwari) - Paper, function
• を (wo) - object particle
• 果たしています (hatashiteimasu) - perform, fulfill

主語は文の中で最も重要な役割を果たします。

Shugo wa bun no naka de mottomo juuyou na yakuwari o hatashimasu

The subject plays the most important role in the sentence.

• 主語 (shujo) - subject
• は (wa) - Topic particle
• 文 (bun) - sentence
• の中で (no naka de) - Inside of
• 最も (mottomo) - more, the most
• 重要な (juuyouna) - important
• 役割 (yakuwari) - Paper, function
• を果たします (wo hatashimasu) - perform, fulfill

偶数は2で割り切れる数です。

Gūsū wa ni de warikireru kazu desu

Even numbers are divisible by 2.

• 偶数 - even number
• は - Topic particle
• 2 - two
• で - Instrument particle
• 割り切れる - be divisible
• 数 - number
• です - verb to be in the present

割り勘しましょうか？

Warikan shimashou ka?

Want to share the account?

Should I divide it?

• 割り勘 - equal splitting of a bill among several people
• しましょうか - Japanese expression that means "shall we do?" or "should we do?"

割り込むのは失礼です。

Warikomu no wa shitsurei desu

It's rude to cut.

• 割り込む - verb meaning "to intrude" or "to interrupt"
• の - Particle indicating possession or relationship
• は - particle that indicates the main theme of the sentence
• 失礼 - noun meaning "discourtesy" or "rudeness"
• です - auxiliary verb that indicates the polite or formal form of the sentence