Translation guide
The English verb "divide" covers several distinct actions and concepts in Japanese. The most common equivalents are 分ける (wakeru) for splitting things into parts or sharing, and 割る (waru) for breaking or splitting into pieces, especially in math. Other verbs are used for separating spaces, classifying, causing disagreement, and mathematical division.
To separate something into two or more parts, or to distribute among people.
divide the cake · divide the money · divide the work
The most common and versatile verb for dividing, splitting, or sharing something. Can be used for physical division, distribution, or classification.
I divided the cake into four pieces.
A more formal term for dividing or splitting something into parts, often used in technical or business contexts.
They divided the land and sold it off.
Emphasizes sharing or dividing something among people, often with a sense of mutual participation or emotional sharing.
To break something into parts, often by cutting, hitting, or applying force. Also used for mathematical division.
Used for breaking or splitting something into pieces, especially with force or along natural lines. Also the standard verb for arithmetic division.
To separate two areas, groups, or things by a physical or abstract boundary.
A formal or literary verb meaning to divide, separate, or part. Often used for abstract or spatial separation.
To separate things into groups based on characteristics.
To classify or categorize. The standard term for dividing things into categories.
To cause people to disagree or form opposing groups.
To cause a group to split or divide, often due to disagreement.
The arithmetic operation of dividing one number by another.
The standard verb for division in math.
分ける (wakeru) is for dividing things into parts or sharing, often without breaking. 割る (waru) implies breaking or splitting with force, and is used for math. Use 分ける for distributing cake, 割る for breaking a plate or dividing numbers.
Divide the class into groups.
We divide the profits among everyone.
喜びを分かち合う。
We share (divide) our joy.
皿を割ってしまった。
I broke (divided into pieces) the plate.
If you divide 10 by 2, you get 5.
To break or crush into small pieces. Often used for hard objects.
Please crush (divide) the ice.
The sea divides the two countries.
To separate or partition, often with a physical barrier or distance. Can also mean to estrange.
A wall divides the room into two.
To partition or divide a space, often with a screen or partition. Also used for managing or taking charge.
I divided the room with a curtain.
I classify (divide) books by genre.
Can also be used for simple classification, especially in casual contexts.
Divide trash into burnable and non-burnable.
The issue divided the party.
Can be used metaphorically for dividing opinions or groups, but less common than 分裂させる.
It divided public opinion right down the middle.
6を2で割ると3です。
6 divided by 2 is 3.
The noun phrase for performing division.
Please do the division.
wakeru vs waru
If you want to say "divide the work among us," use 分ける (wakeru), not 割る (waru). 割る would sound like you are breaking the work into pieces.
divide the work
The river divides the city into two parts.
Opinions are divided on this issue.