Meaning
To divide, split, break, or cut apart. Also used to describe percentages or ratios.
- 割合 — Ratio, proportion
- 割引 — Discount
- 割る — To divide, to split
- 分割 — Division, partition
- 割当 — Allocation
- 割り算 — Division (math)
- 割り箸 — Disposable chopsticks
This kanji combines the sword radical 刂 (symbolizing cutting) with 害 (as the phonetic component), forming a phono-semantic compound. It visually and conceptually suggests something being sliced or split.
Its use in math (as in 割合 or 割り算) reflects its original “dividing” meaning extended into logical and numerical contexts.
割引が 使えます。
You can use a discount.
割合に 男の人が 多いです。
There is a high ratio of men.
This kanji is pronounced カツ in on-yomi (used in compounds like 割愛 and 割当) and わる・わり・さく in kun-yomi. わり is especially common in ratio-related terms, and わる is the verb form meaning “to divide” or “to break.”