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
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
- Vocabulary
- Writing
- Sentences
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:
Kaiun wa kokusai bōeki ni totte jūyōna yakuwari o hatashite imasu
Maritime transport plays an important role in international trade.
The transport of water plays an important role in international trade.
- 海運 (kaigun) - Maritime transport
- 国際貿易 (kokusai boueki) - international trade
- にとって (ni totte) - for
- 重要な (juuyou na) - important
- 役割 (yakuwari) - role/function
- を果たしています (o hatashite imasu) - performs
Bokushi wa kyoukai de raihai o michibiku yakuwari o motte imasu
The pastor has the role of leading the cult in the church.
The pastor has the role of guiding the cult in the church.
- 牧師 - pastor
- は - Topic particle
- 教会 - church
- で - Location particle
- 礼拝 - cult
- を - direct object particle
- 導く - lead, guide
- 役割 - Paper, function
- を - direct object particle
- 持っています - Land, possess
Watashi no jikanwari wa maishuu getsuyoubi kara kin'youbi made desu
My schedule is Monday through Friday every Monday.
- 私の時間割 - "My schedule" in Japanese
- は - Japanese topic particle
- 毎週 - "Every week" in Japanese
- 月曜日 - "Monday" in Japanese
- から - "From" in Japanese
- 金曜日 - "Friday" in Japanese
- まで - "Until" in Japanese
- です - polite way of "being" in Japanese
Wakiyaku wa juuyou na yakuwari wo hatashimasu
Support role plays an important role.
- 脇役 - supporting character
- は - Topic particle
- 重要な - important
- 役割 - Paper, function
- を - direct object particle
- 果たします - perform, fulfill
Goei wa taisetsu na yakuwari o hatashimasu
Escort plays an important role.
- 護衛 - body guard
- は - Topic particle
- 大切 - important, valuable
- な - Particle indicating adjective
- 役割 - Paper, function
- を - direct object particle
- 果たします - perform, fulfill
Yushutsu wa kuni no keizai ni totte juuyou na yakuwari wo hatashiteimasu
Exports play an important role in the national economy.
- 輸出 (yushutsu) - Export
- は (wa) - Topic particle
- 国 (kuni) - country
- の (no) - Possessive particle
- 経済 (keizai) - economy
- にとって (ni totte) - for
- 重要 (juuyou) - important
- な (na) - adjectival particle
- 役割 (yakuwari) - Paper, function
- を果たしています (wo hatashite imasu) - performs
Sorikana wa nihongo no bunsho de juuyou na yakuwari wo hatashimasu
The sending of Kana plays an important role in Japanese sentences.
- 送り仮名 - means "send kana", which are the characters added to Japanese words to indicate their correct pronunciation.
- 日本語 - means "Japanese language".
- 文章 - means "sentence" or "text".
- 重要 - means "important".
- 役割 - means "role" or "function".
- 果たします - is a verb that means "to fulfill" or "to execute".
Other Words of this Type: noun
See other words from our dictionary that are also: noun
