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裂く (さく) Japanese meaning | Kotomora

裂さく

さ

く

Common wordJLPTN2Freq.FrequencyTop 20,000

Meanings

1

godan verb (-ku), transitive verb

Only when written 裂く

Uses 裂く for tearing or ripping something, especially cloth, paper, or another material, into pieces or apart.

古ふるい手て紙がみを細こまかく裂さいて捨すてた。
I tore the old letters into small pieces and threw them away.
布ぬのを裂

さ

い

て

、

応おう

急きゅう

処しょ

置ち

に

使つか

っ

た

。

I tore the cloth and used it for first aid.

2

godan verb (-ku), transitive verb

split; cleave; cut open

Physical splitting or cutting open; often used when something is opened lengthwise or split apart, especially with a sharp tool. The gloss includes cutting open the abdomen.

包ほう丁ちょうで魚さかなの腹はらを裂さいた。
I slit the fish's belly open with a kitchen knife.
落らく雷らいが木きを真まっ二ぷたつに裂さいた。
The lightning split the tree in two.

3

godan verb (-ku), transitive verb

forcibly separate; tear apart

Only when written 裂く

Figurative 裂く, especially for separating people who should or want to be together, such as lovers or close companions.

親おやの反はん対たいが二人ふたりの仲なかを裂さいた。
Their parents' opposition tore the two of them apart.

4

godan verb (-ku), transitive verb

spare; set aside; allocate

Only when written 割く

Uses 割く for using part of a limited resource, especially time, money, staff, space, or effort, for a particular purpose.

忙いそがしい中なか、時じ間かんを割さいて来きてくれてありがとう。
Thank you for taking the time to come despite being busy.
会かい社しゃは新あたらしい事じ業ぎょうに予よ算さんの一いち部ぶを割さいた。
The company allocated part of its budget to the new business.

5

godan verb (-ku), transitive verb

tattoo the corner of the eye

archaic

Only with reading さく

Archaic and highly specialized sense; Cross-referenced with 黥く. This is not a modern everyday use of 裂く or 割く.

See also: 黥く

古ふるい語ご義ぎとして、さくは目め尻じりに入いれ墨ずみをすることを指さした。
As an old meaning, saku referred to tattooing the corner of the eye.

Written forms

裂さくUsage40%
Standard spelling for physically tearing, ripping, splitting open, and figuratively separating people or a relationship.
割さくUsage36%
Standard spelling for allocating or setting aside time, money, effort, etc.; also lists a physical splitting or cutting sense.
さくUsage23%

Kanji

裂split, rend, tear
割proportion, comparatively, divide

Similar words

破やぶる
Also means to tear or break something, but it is broader and can mean breaking a promise or rule; it does not mean allocating time or money.
切きり裂さく
A more explicit and forceful verb for cutting or slashing something open; 裂く can be simpler and less dramatic.
割わり当あてる
Means to assign or allocate resources in a more administrative way; 割く emphasizes setting aside part of a limited resource.

Etymology

さく is a native Japanese verb. The exact historical derivation is uncertain; the kanji spellings are conventionally used to distinguish 裂く for tearing or splitting from 割く for dividing off or allocating.