分ける・別ける|わけるwakeru[2]nakadaka (mid-high)
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Which spelling to use
分ける分ける（わける） is the most common and standard form, written with kanji and kana together; use it for ordinary writing and as the default choice for beginners.
別ける別ける（わける） is a rarely used written variant, also written with kanji and kana together; you will seldom encounter it, so do not choose it by default.
Definitions
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto divide (into); to split (into); to part; to separate; to divide up; to classify; to sort out; to divide out
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto share; to distribute; to deal out; to dish out
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto distinguish; to discriminate; to differentiate (between)
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto break up (a fight); to mediate
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto call a draw; to tie
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto push one's way through (a crowd)
- ichidan verb, transitive verbto sellalso written as 頒ける
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 分ける（わける） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 分けます（わけます） |
| Negative (nai) | 分けない（わけない） |
| polite (masen) | 分けません（わけません） |
| classical zu / nu | 分けず・分けぬ（わけず・わけぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 分けた（わけた） |
| polite (mashita) | 分けました（わけました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 分けなかった（わけなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 分けませんでした（わけませんでした） |
| Te form | 分けて（わけて） |
| Potential | 分けられる（わけられる） |
| Passive | 分けられる（わけられる） |
| Causative | 分けさせる（わけさせる） |
| Causative passive | 分けさせられる（わけさせられる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 分ければ（わければ） |
| tara | 分けたら（わけたら） |
| Volitional | 分けよう（わけよう） |
| polite (mashou) | 分けましょう（わけましょう） |
| Imperative | 分けろ（わけろ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Transitive / intransitive pair
道を二手に分ける
分かれる describes something dividing or branching on its own (as in 道が二手に分かれる), while 分ける describes an agent actively dividing it (as in 道を二手に分ける).
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym区分くぶんNeutralDividing by set criteria into parts or categories, as in 「年齢で区分する」; leans written, common in systems and statistics.
- Synonym区分けくわけNeutralSplitting a whole into blocks, as in 「区分けして並べる」; more colloquial than 「区分」 and about actually sorting things apart.
- Synonym分割ぶんかつNeutralCutting one whole into pieces, as in 「分割払い」 or 「画面分割」; the focus is on dividing into portions.
- Synonym選り分けるよりわけるNeutralSorting out by picking good from bad, as in 「良品を選り分ける」; the emphasis is on selecting.
- Synonym区別くべつNeutralTelling things apart by their differences, as in 「公私を区別する」; about recognizing distinctions, not necessarily physically separating.
- Synonym分類ぶんるいNeutralClassifying by a set standard, as in 「植物を分類する」; academic and systematic in tone.
- Synonym割るわるNeutralBreaking, splitting or dividing in math, as in 「薪を割る」 or 「十を二で割る」; the focus is splitting open.
- Synonym分かつわかつWrittenWritten-style verb for dividing, sharing or distinguishing, as in 「袂を分かつ」 or 「苦楽を分かつ」.
- Synonym分与ぶんよWrittenWritten word for handing out, common in legal contexts, as in 「財産分与」.
- Synonym離すはなすNeutralMoving things that touch or sit close apart, as in 「手を離す」; about creating distance, not sorting or sharing.
- Synonym仕分けるしわけるNeutralSorting by type or destination, as in 「荷物を仕分ける」; typical of logistics and accounting.
- Related振り分けるふりわけるNeutralApportioning or assigning out to parties, as in 「仕事を振り分ける」; the emphasis is on doling out.
- Related分け合うわけあうNeutralSharing among each other, as in 「お菓子を分け合う」; mostly for concrete things.
- Related分離ぶんりNeutralSeparating things mixed together, as in 「油と水が分離する」; leans scientific or institutional.
- Related仕分けしわけNeutralNoun for sorting or classifying, also a bookkeeping entry, as in 「郵便物の仕分け」.
- Related引き離すひきはなすNeutralPulling stuck things apart, or opening up a lead, as in 「二位を引き離す」.
- Related割り当てるわりあてるNeutralAssigning shares, tasks or budgets to people or departments, as in 「役割を割り当てる」.
- Related区切るくぎるNeutralMarking boundaries and breaking things up, as in 「段落を区切る」 or 「時間を区切る」; the focus is drawing lines.
- Related配分はいぶんNeutralDistributing resources or points, as in 「予算の配分」; leans written.
- Related配当はいとうNeutralDistribution, especially stock dividends, as in 「株式配当」; mostly financial.
- Related分担ぶんたんNeutralEach taking on a share, as in 「費用を分担する」; the emphasis is sharing the burden.
- Related分配ぶんぱいNeutralHanding things out to many people, as in 「利益を分配する」; leans formal.
- Related区画くかくNeutralA divided plot or compartment, as in 「区画整理」; mostly for land, mainly a noun.
- Relatedふるい分けるふるいわけるNeutralSifting out, literally or from a large pool, as in 「応募者をふるい分ける」; the point is weeding out.
- Related分かち合うわかちあうNeutralSharing things with each other, as in 「喜びを分かち合う」; mostly for abstract things like feelings.
- Related取り分けるとりわけるNeutralServing out a portion from the whole, as in 「料理を小皿に取り分ける」; mostly used for dishing up food.
- Antonym合わせるあわせるNeutralAntonym: joining things together or making them match, the opposite of the dividing 「分ける」.
- Antonym混ぜるまぜるNeutralAntonym: mixing things into one, the opposite of the dividing 「分ける」.
- Antonym集めるあつめるNeutralAntonym: gathering things into one place, the opposite of dispersing or handing out.
Use 「分ける」 for splitting a whole, sorting it, or handing it out. For classifying by criteria, say 「分類」 or 「区分」; for telling differences apart, 「区別」; for sharing, 「分け合う」; for distributing, 「分配」. The opposite is 「合わせる」.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
