Translation guide
The English word 'split' covers many meanings, from physically dividing something to leaving a place. This guide organizes the most useful meanings for learners and gives natural Japanese equivalents.
To divide something into two or more parts, often along a line or by force.
General verb for splitting or breaking something into pieces, especially hard objects like wood, glass, or ice.
Split firewood.
窓ガラスを割ってしまった。
I accidentally split the window glass.
To split or tear something by pulling apart, often used for cloth, paper, or flesh.
To divide or split something into groups or shares, often for distribution.
利益をみんなで分ける。
Split the profits among everyone.
クラスを二つのグループに分けた。
We split the class into two groups.
Formal term for splitting or dividing something into parts, often used in technical or business contexts.
土地を分割する。
Split the land into parcels.
作業を分割して行う。
Split the work into parts and do it.
To divide expenses among people, each paying a portion.
The most common way to say 'split the bill' in casual settings. Literally 'make it a split account'.
今日は割り勘にしよう。
Let's split the bill today.
To split something equally in half, often used for costs or responsibilities.
費用は折半しましょう。
Let's split the cost fifty-fifty.
To end a romantic relationship or partnership.
The standard verb for breaking up or splitting up with a partner.
彼氏と別れた。
I split up with my boyfriend.
二人は別れることにした。
The two decided to split up.
Used for groups, bands, or organizations splitting up or disbanding.
バンドが解散した。
The band split up.
To leave or depart, often quickly or casually.
Slang for 'split' or 'get out of here', often used among friends.
そろそろずらかろう。
Let's split soon.
Humorous or old-fashioned way to say 'leave' or 'split', often used jokingly.
ここらで退散しよう。
Let's split from here.
To argue about very small, unimportant differences.
Idiom meaning 'to pick at the corners of a tiered box', equivalent to 'split hairs'.
彼はいつも重箱の隅をつつくようなことばかり言う。
He's always splitting hairs.
Literally 'to be particular about small things', a more direct way to express splitting hairs.
そんな細かいことにこだわるな。
Don't split hairs like that.
An extremely short moment of time.
Means 'an instant' or 'a moment', used for split-second timing.
一瞬の出来事だった。
It happened in a split second.
Literally 'the time it takes to blink', a poetic way to say split second.
瞬く間に消えた。
It disappeared in a split second.
English 'split' is very broad. Using a single Japanese word like 割る for every context will sound unnatural. Choose the verb that matches the specific action or situation.
割る is for breaking hard objects, 裂く is for tearing flexible materials, and 分ける is for dividing into portions or groups. Use the right one to avoid confusion.