Japanese word

割り切る

Pronunciation

Romajiwarikiru

Meaning

  • verbaccept

Example

過去のことだと割り切ります。ka ko no ko to da to wa ri ki ri ma su

I accept that it is in the past.

Illustration for 割り切る (accept)

More examples

納得できなくても、今回は仕方ないと割り切ります。nat toku de ki na ku te mo kon kai wa shi kata na i to wa ri ki ri ma su

Even if I am not satisfied, I accept that there is nothing I can do this time.

Core concept

Treats a difficult fact as settled by drawing a clear mental line instead of continuing to struggle with it.

Common phrases

  • 過去のことだと割り切るka ko no ko to da to wa ri ki ru

    accept that it is in the past

  • 割り切って考えるwa ri ki tte kanga e ru

    think pragmatically

  • 仕事と私生活を割り切るshi goto to watashi sei katsu o wa ri ki ru

    keep work and private life separate

Similar words

受け入れるukeireru: To acknowledge a fact or situation and accept it as part of reality.
受け止めるuketomeru: To face a fact or event and take in its meaning or impact.
諦めるakirameru: To give up hope of changing or achieving something.

Definition in Japanese

事情や感情にとらわれず、ある事柄をやむを得ないものとして受け入れる。ji jō ya kan jō ni to ra wa re zu a ru koto gara o ya mu o e na i mo no to shi te u ke i re ru

Word origin

割る (waru, "divide") and 切る (kiru, "cut") combine in a word that extends the idea of cutting something into clear parts to accepting a matter decisively.

Usage tips

  • In mathematics, 割り切る (warikiru) can mean dividing evenly, while in conversation it often means drawing a practical line under a difficult matter.

Other meanings

  • be practicalverb
  • divide evenlyverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 割り切りwarikiripragmatic acceptancenoun

Word lists with this word