L39. [Day 39] 分 - minute / divide
Days 31-40
R-report
[Day 39] 分 - minute / divide
The kanji 分 originally combines elements meaning “to split/divide” (think of 八, dividing) and a blade (刀) — together suggesting cutting into parts. In modern Japanese it commonly appears in time expressions (minutes), quantities/shares (a part), and verbs like 分かる (to understand) and 分ける (to divide). Readings: On'yomi appears in compound words and time counters; Kun'yomi appears in verbs and native words. Example compounds: 分野（ぶんや / bun'ya） "field", 十分（じゅうぶん / juubun） "enough", 一分（いっぷん / ippun） "one minute". Mnemonic tip: Imagine a blade (刀) splitting something into parts (八) — cutting into minutes or portions.
Readings
On'yomi: **ブン / フン / プン** (bun / fun / pun) Kun'yomi: **わける / わかる / わかれる** (wakeru / wakaru / wakareru)
Related words
- 分（ふん / fun） — minute. - 今は五**分**です。(Ima wa go-fun desu. — It's five minutes past the hour.)
- 分かる（わかる / wakaru） — to understand. - 私は日本語が**分かる**。(Watashi wa Nihongo ga **wakaru**. — I understand Japanese.)
- 分ける（わける / wakeru） — to divide; to share. - ケーキを三つに**分ける**。(Keeki o mittsu ni **wakeru**. — (I) divide the cake into three.)
- 十分（じゅうぶん / juubun） — enough; sufficient. - もう**十分**です。(Mou **juubun** desu. — That's enough.)
- 一分（いっぷん / ippun） — one minute. - 映画はあと**一分**で始まる。(Eiga wa ato **ippun** de hajimaru. — The movie starts in one minute.)