別 separate

Also: different

On'yomi: ベツ
Kun'yomi: わか-れる
Strokes: 7
JLPT: N4
Taught in: Primary school, year 4

In the kun'yomi, the kana after a dash are written after the kanji (okurigana): わか-れる.

Stroke order

1
2
3
4
5
6
7

別 is written in 7 strokes. Each panel adds the next one; the dot marks where the brush starts.

Remember it

A mouth (口) wrapped (勹) up tight, then a knife (刂) slices it off from the rest — cut apart into a separate, different piece.

A common word

特別とくべつ special

Example sentences

別の色はありますか。
べつのいろはありますか。
Do you have a different color?
駅で友だちと別れました。
えきでともだちとわかれました。
I parted from my friend at the station.

Kanji that share a part

刂 is its radical. 28 kanji share it in all.

前 before
利 profit
制 system
則 rule
列 file N3
判 judgement N3
到 arrival N3
刻 engrave N3

勹 is a component.

包 wrap N2
為 sake N2
勺 ladle N1
匁 monme (unit) N1
句 phrase N1
旬 decameron N1
陶 pottery N1