別 means “separate, different”

べつ · betsu

Also: branch off, diverge, fork

Kun'yomi (Japanese reading)

わかれる, わける

On'yomi (Chinese reading)

ベツ

JLPT N4 · Taught in grade 4 · 7 strokes

The story

A bone cut clean from the joint by a knife (刂): separation made surgical. Yet Japanese softens it: 別に means "nothing in particular," and 特別 marks what is set apart because it is precious.

Used in 別れる (wakareru, to part ways), 別々 (betsubetsu, separately), and 別の (betsu no, a different one)

More from Motion & Change

• 引 pull
• 使 use
• 始 begin
• 終 end
• 止 stop
• 転 revolve
• 起 wake
• 去 leave
• 注 pour
• 自 oneself
• 回 times
• 動 move

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Readings from KANJIDIC2, © EDRDG, CC BY-SA.