Translation guide
The English verb "divide" covers several distinct actions and concepts in Japanese. The most common equivalents are 分ける (wakeru) for splitting things into parts or sharing, and 割る (waru) for breaking or splitting into pieces, especially in math. Other verbs are used for separating spaces, classifying, causing disagreement, and mathematical division.
To separate something into two or more parts, or to distribute among people.
divide the cake · divide the money · divide the work
The most common and versatile verb for dividing, splitting, or sharing something. Can be used for physical division, distribution, or classification.
ケーキを四つに分けた。
I divided the cake into four pieces.
利益をみんなで分ける。
We divide the profits among everyone.
A more formal term for dividing or splitting something into parts, often used in technical or business contexts.
土地を分割して売却した。
They divided the land and sold it off.
Emphasizes sharing or dividing something among people, often with a sense of mutual participation or emotional sharing.
To break something into parts, often by cutting, hitting, or applying force. Also used for mathematical division.
Used for breaking or splitting something into pieces, especially with force or along natural lines. Also the standard verb for arithmetic division.
To separate two areas, groups, or things by a physical or abstract boundary.
To separate things into groups based on characteristics.
To classify or categorize. The standard term for dividing things into categories.
本をジャンルごとに分類する。
I classify (divide) books by genre.
To cause people to disagree or form opposing groups.
To cause a group to split or divide, often due to disagreement.
その問題が党を分裂させた。
The issue divided the party.
The arithmetic operation of dividing one number by another.
The standard verb for division in math.
分ける (wakeru) is for dividing things into parts or sharing, often without breaking. 割る (waru) implies breaking or splitting with force, and is used for math. Use 分ける for distributing cake, 割る for breaking a plate or dividing numbers.
ケーキを分ける (cut and share) vs 皿を割る (break a plate)
wakeru vs waru
If you want to say "divide the work among us," use 分ける (wakeru), not 割る (waru). 割る would sound like you are breaking the work into pieces.
クラスをグループに分けてください。
Divide the class into groups.
その川が街を二つに分けている。
The river divides the city into two parts.
この問題については意見が分かれている。
Opinions are divided on this issue.
喜びを分かち合う。
We share (divide) our joy.
I broke (divided into pieces) the plate.
10を2で割ると5になる。
If you divide 10 by 2, you get 5.
To break or crush into small pieces. Often used for hard objects.
氷を砕いてください。
Please crush (divide) the ice.
A formal or literary verb meaning to divide, separate, or part. Often used for abstract or spatial separation.
海が二つの国を分かつ。
The sea divides the two countries.
To separate or partition, often with a physical barrier or distance. Can also mean to estrange.
壁が部屋を二つに隔てている。
A wall divides the room into two.
To partition or divide a space, often with a screen or partition. Also used for managing or taking charge.
部屋をカーテンで仕切った。
I divided the room with a curtain.
Can also be used for simple classification, especially in casual contexts.
ゴミを燃えるゴミと燃えないゴミに分ける。
Divide trash into burnable and non-burnable.
Can be used metaphorically for dividing opinions or groups, but less common than 分裂させる.
世論を真っ二つに割った。
It divided public opinion right down the middle.
6を2で割ると3です。
6 divided by 2 is 3.
The noun phrase for performing division.
割り算をしてください。
Please do the division.
divide the work
divide the work