To Divide

by Nao

wa-keru, wa-kareru, wa-karu, wa-katsu, bun, bu

The general meaning of this character is to divide.

The suffixes, keru, kareru, karu, and katsu, are okurigana. They have delicate nuances. If you divide something, your action is expressed as wa-keru. If something splits, it is in the state of wa-kareru. (Take note that there is another character with the same reading for a divorce.) Wa-karu means to understand. To separate something from another is described as wa-katsu.

Fractions are bunsū, of which the sū means numbers. A half is ni bun no ichi (2 bun no 1), a third, san bun no ichi (3 bun no 1), and a quarter, yon bun no ichi (4 bun no 1). No is in hiragana.

Equinoxes also divides seasons. The spring equinox is shunbun, and the autumnal equinox is shūbun.

There are some words probably telling us about something separate. Self or oneself is jibun. Nature or temperament is shōbun.

Incidentally, Ōita is a prefecture in Kyusyu.

Addition: In the classical system of measuring length, weight, amount and so on, “bu” is a unit of measurement. ichibu is one percent or about 30 mm (a tenth of one sun). (August 13, 2010)

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Here is the stroke order.

1. Draw the sweeping stroke from the top to the lower left. Make it narrower gradually.
2. Draw the sweeping stroke from the top to the lower right. Make it broader in the end.
3. Draw the hook. After changing the direction of the brush, draw a curve with an upward turn.
4. Draw the sweeping stroke, which should not stick out from the hook.