分かる
わかる · wakaru · JLPT N5 · verb-godan
to understand
💡 分 = to divide: you understand a thing once you can split it into parts
分かる comes from 分ける (wakeru), to divide or separate. Something is understood when it comes apart into clear pieces. Sound hook: wakaru is like wake up — the moment it clicks, you wake up to the meaning.
分 — knife 刀 + eight 八 (split apart)
分 originally depicted a knife (刀) cutting something into two parts, shown by 八 above (which itself meant 'divide'). The core sense is 'to divide' or 'split', from which extended meanings like 'portion', 'minute', and 'part' developed. Pronounced fèn, it carries the sense of an allotted share.