The Meaning of wakareru [分かれる] In Japanese
分かれる
わかれる
Romaji: wakareru
N4
What does 分かれる mean?
Translation and Meaning
to split, to diverge, to branch, to divide
Definition
分かれる means to be divided or split into parts, to branch off, or for opinions to diverge. It describes a change of state where a single thing becomes two or more distinct parts or directions, often used for roads, rivers, groups, or ideas.
Stroke Order
Meanings
- Physical or conceptual splitting into parts or branches (roads, rivers, ideas)
- Divergence of opinions or interpretations
- Parting ways or the separation of people or groups
- Distribution into two or more categories or camps
Composition
- 分: division, part; われる denotes a change of state into a divided form; together they express becoming divided or branched
Usage
Used in everyday speech and writing to describe splitting phenomena; commonly intransitive; subjects marked by が when describing a physical split (道が分かれる, 川が分かれる) or abstract divergence (意見が分かれる). For directional splits, に or へ can indicate resulting paths or destinations.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: picture a forked road where 分 (division) guides you to two separate paths; the sound of われる in wakareru helps recall that something splits or diverges.
Variations
- 別れる (wakareru) — to part ways; romaji wakareru
- 分裂する (bunretsu suru) — to split into parts; romaji bunretsu suru
- 分岐する (bunkisuru) — to branch or diverge; romaji bunkisuru
- 統合する (tougou suru) — to unite; romaji tougou suru
