別れます（わかれます、wakaremasu）
- to part

The Japanese word 別れます (わかれます) primarily means "to separate," "to part," or "to break up." It describes the act of ending a relationship, be it a romantic one, a friendship, or even a professional association. It can also refer to separating or dividing things. The meaning depends heavily on the context of the sentence. The core concept is about a disconnection or the cessation of a relationship or association. It implies a definitive end, not just a temporary pause.

⚫︎恋人と別れます。 Translation: I will break up with my boyfriend/girlfriend. ⚫︎会社を別れます。 Translation: I will leave the company. (Implies quitting, or separating from the company). ⚫︎友達と別れました。 Translation: I parted ways with my friend. (Implies the end of a friendship).

You use 別れます when you're talking about the end of a relationship, a parting of ways, or a division of things. It's crucial to understand the context. This verb is versatile, applicable in both formal and informal contexts. Depending on the formality you can use more polite forms. For example, for a romantic relationship, it is a common expression. When separating or dividing things, it can be applied to physical division, or ending a business partnership. You will often see it used in the past tense when you are already separated. When discussing the end of a romantic relationship, the subject is typically the person initiating the break-up, or the people involved in the break-up.

The word is typically written as 別れます. ⚫︎Hiragana: わかれます ⚫︎Kanji: 別れます The okurigana (the suffix hiragana) is always れます. The conjugation of the verb determines the form; for example, 別れる (wakare-ru) is the dictionary form, and [別れ][ます] (wakare-masu) is the polite present/future form. Other conjugations include [別れ][ました] (wakare-mashita, past polite), and [別れ][て] (wakare-te, the -te form).

⚫︎分かれる (wakare-ru): This can also mean "to separate" or "to part," with a very similar meaning to [別れ][ます]. Often used to describe physical separation or division. ⚫︎離れる (hanareru): This means "to move away," "to separate," or "to be apart," emphasizing distance. This is less direct than [別れ][ます], not always implying the end of a relationship. ⚫︎If referring to a romantic breakup, also 別れる[こと] (wakare-ru koto) or the more informal 振られる (furareru) - to be dumped.

⚫︎出会う (deau): To meet, to encounter. ⚫︎付き合う (tsukiau): To date, to go out with (someone). (In the context of romantic relationships) ⚫︎一緒になる (issho ni naru): To get together (with someone). ⚫︎集まる (atsumaru): To gather, to assemble.

彼女と[別れ][ました]。 ・Translation: I broke up with my girlfriend. ・Explanation: This sentence uses the past tense of [別れ][ます] to indicate that the separation has already occurred. It is a very common use of the word.

この道は二つに[別れ][ます]。 ・Translation: This road divides into two. ・Explanation: In this sentence, [別れ][ます] is used to describe the physical division of a road into two paths.

The verb 別れる (wakare-ru) comes from the verb stem 分かれる (wakare-ru). 分かれる, in turn, is formed from the kanji 分 (wa/ka) meaning "to divide," "to separate," "to share," or "to understand." The addition of the verb suffix makes it a verb meaning “to separate” or "to part".