The kanji 別 primarily conveys the idea of "separation," "distinction," or "another." It implies a division, either physically or conceptually, setting something apart from something else. It suggests a difference or a divergence.

・On-yomi (音読み): ベツ (betsu) ・Kun-yomi (訓読み): わか(れる) (waka(reru)) – to separate, to part; わ(ける) (wa(keru)) – to divide, to sort

⚫︎ 別れ (wakare) Translation: parting, farewell, separation ⚫︎ 特別 (tokubetsu) Translation: special, particular ⚫︎ 分別 (bembetsu) Translation: discrimination, discernment; separation (of trash, etc.)

The kanji 別 is a phono-semantic compound (形声文字). The left side is a radical representing a knife (刂, also written as 刀). The right side is another character representing "bone" (骨, written as 另 in this combination). The original meaning of this kanji could have been related to the use of a knife to cut something off, separating it. Through historical development, it came to represent "to separate," or "to distinguish." The knife radical (刂) adds a degree of emphasis or action.