Japanese symbol for “discriminate”
分ける
わける
Romaji: wakeru
to divide (into); to split (into); to part; to separate
In Japanese, discriminate is 分ける, read わける (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
- v1, vt to divide (into); to split (into); to part; to separate; to divide up; to classify
- v1, vt to share; to distribute; to deal out; to dish out
- v1, vt to distinguish; to discriminate; to differentiate (between)
- v1, vt to break up (a fight); to mediate
- v1, vt to call a draw; to tie
- v1, vt to push one's way through (a crowd)
Written forms: 分ける、別ける、頒ける. Readings: わける.
Kanji and stroke order
Other Japanese words for “discriminate”
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 弁える | わきまえる wakimaeru | to discern (e.g. right from wrong); to discriminate; to distinguish |
| 相手を選ぶ | あいてをえらぶ aiteoerabu | to discriminate (between targets, victims, etc.); to pick one's battles; to choose one's partner or opponent |
| 弁じる | べんじる benjiru | to speak; to talk; to argue |
| 弁ずる | べんずる benzuru | to manage; to dispose of; to carry through |
| 優劣をつける | ゆうれつをつける yuuretsuotsukeru | to rank; to discriminate (between); to put (one thing) above (the other) |
Related words
Words that share a kanji.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 自分 | じぶん jibun | myself; yourself; oneself |
| 部分 | ぶぶん bubun | portion; section; part |
| 気分 | きぶん kibun | feeling; mood |
| 半分 | はんぶん hanbun | half |
| 分野 | ぶんや bun'ya | field; sphere; realm |
| 多分 | たぶん tabun | probably; likely; perhaps |
See also: Chinese symbol for “discriminate”.
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.