日
学
夢
本
語
心
Divide / Minute
分
Divide / Minute
Kun-yomi 🇯🇵:
わける (wakeru), わかる (wakaru)
(Japanese reading)
On-yomi 🇨🇳:
ブン (bun) / フン (fun)
(Chinese-derived reading)
Divide / Minute
Divide / Minute

Pronunciation rules

  • わける (wakeru) and わかる (wakaru) are kun-yomi used as verbs meaning "to divide" and "to understand" respectively.
  • ブン (bun) and フン (fun) are on-yomi used in compounds, especially for time expressions meaning "minute".
  • When used for minutes, the reading changes: 十分 reads as じゅっぷん (juppun: 10 minutes) but can also read as じゅうぶん (juubun: enough).

Examples

Kun-yomiNative Japanese Readings
わけます。
I divide.
Uses kun-yomi わける (wakeru) as a verb meaning to divide
わかります。
I understand.
Uses kun-yomi わかる (wakaru) as a verb meaning to understand
On-yomiSino-Japanese Readings
じゅっぷん です。
It's 10 minutes.
Uses on-yomi フン (fun) in time expression 十分 (note: changes to プン after 十)
じゅうぶん です。
It's enough.
Uses on-yomi ブン (bun) in compound 十分 meaning enough

Quick facts

  • Radical: 刀 (knife)
  • Strokes: 4
  • Common compounds: 十分 (じゅっぷん, juppun / じゅうぶん, juubun), 分ける (わける, wakeru), 分かる (わかる, wakaru)
  • ⚠️ Reading variations:
    • As verbs: わける (wakeru) - divide, わかる (wakaru) - understand
    • For minutes: ふん (fun) or ぷん (pun) depending on number
    • Same kanji, different meanings: 十分 can mean "10 minutes" or "enough"

Key Words

分ける - to divide
分かる - to understand
十分 - 10 minutes
十分 - enough