King's Kung-Fu& Tai Chi

Japanese symbol for “classify”

Romaji: wakeru
to divide (into); to split (into); to part; to separate

In Japanese, classify is , read (wakeru).

Before using these characters for a tattoo, check them with a native speaker. Dictionary words often have several meanings, and the right choice depends on context.

Meanings

  1. v1, vt to divide (into); to split (into); to part; to separate; to divide up; to classify
  2. v1, vt to share; to distribute; to deal out; to dish out
  3. v1, vt to distinguish; to discriminate; to differentiate (between)
  4. v1, vt to break up (a fight); to mediate
  5. v1, vt to call a draw; to tie
  6. v1, vt to push one's way through (a crowd)

Written forms: . Readings: .

Kanji and stroke order

part, minute of time, segment
on: ブン、フン、ブ
kun: わ.ける、わ.け、わ.かれる、わ.かる
4 strokes · JLPT 4

Other Japanese words for “classify”

WordReadingMeaning
よりわける yoriwakeruto classify; to sort out; to sift through
しわける shiwakeruto assort; to classify; to journalize (in accounting)
とうをわける touowakeruto grade; to classify

Related words

Words that share a kanji.

WordReadingMeaning
じぶん jibunmyself; yourself; oneself
ぶぶん bubunportion; section; part
きぶん kibunfeeling; mood
はんぶん hanbunhalf
ぶんや bun'yafield; sphere; realm
たぶん tabunprobably; likely; perhaps

See also: Chinese symbol for “classify”.

Data: JMdict (CC BY-SA 4.0); KANJIDIC2 (CC BY-SA 4.0); KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0); wordfreq (CC BY-SA 4.0 (data)). Retrieved 2026-10-22.