別

別 — separate, branch off, diverge

Learn the correct stroke order for 別 (separate), a 7-stroke kanji.

JLPT N4Grade 47 strokes

Stroke Order

Stroke 0 / 7

On'yomi (音読み)ベツbetsu

Kun'yomi (訓読み)わか.れるwakareru、わ.けるwakeru

Strokes7

Radical刀

Frequency#214

Meaningsseparate, branch off, diverge, fork, another, extra, specially

Step-by-Step Diagram

Try Writing It

Practice writing each stroke in the correct order and direction. Start from the green dot.

Draw stroke 1 of 7 — start from the green dot

Common Words

格別かくべつparticular; special; exceptionalnoun

鑑別かんべつdiscrimination; judgement; judgmentnoun

区別くべつdistinction; differentiation; discriminationnoun

決別けつべつseparation; farewell; partingnoun

個別こべつindividual; separate; personalnoun

告別こくべつfarewell; leave-takingnoun

Usage & Examples

Usage Notes

The kanji 別 (separate) is taught in grade 4 of Japanese elementary school and appears at JLPT N4 level. It has 7 strokes with radical 刀.

In newspaper frequency rankings, 別 is #214, making it one of the most commonly used kanji.

Example Words in Context

格別かくべつ — particular; special; exceptional

鑑別かんべつ — discrimination; judgement; judgment

区別くべつ — distinction; differentiation; discrimination

Practice Sheet

Trace then write on your own. Print this row as a PDF practice sheet.

Related Kanji

Same radical (刀)

刀sword 刃blade 分part 切cut 刈reap 刊publish 刑punish 列file

Frequently Asked Questions

How many strokes does 別 have?

The kanji 別 (separate) has 7 strokes. Watch the animation above to see the correct order.

What is the correct stroke order for 別?

別 follows the standard Japanese stroke order as taught in schools. Use the step-by-step diagram or the "Try Writing" tool above to practice each stroke in sequence.

What does 別 mean?

別 means: separate, branch off, diverge, fork, another, extra, specially. On'yomi readings: ベツ. Kun'yomi readings: わか.れる, わ.ける.

What JLPT level is 別?

別 is a JLPT N4 kanji. This is a beginner-level kanji.