別 separate

口 (mouth/small box radical) +

(shhh) + 刀 (sword)

★★★★★

7 strokes

Onyomi

BETSU

I'll BET TWO dollars that you and your boyfriend separate by next year.

Mnemonic

If you don't shhh, I'll use my sword to separate your yapping mouth from your face!

Kunyomi

( と ) わか*れる	to separate, like 'break up with', or like when you separate wheat from the chaff. ★★★★☆
べつ ( のｘｘｘ )	a different kind of thing ★★★☆☆
べつ ( にｘｘｘ )	means 'especially' , but always used in the negative: Did you enjoy your date? 別に. (‘Not really!’) Sorry to trouble you. 別に (‘It’s no problem.’) SARC ★★★★★

Jukugo

特別(とくべつ) な	special ★★★★★ 特 (special) + 別 (separate) = 特別 (special )
別々(べつべつ)	separately ★★★★☆ separately, as in "separate checks"　at a restaraunt
区別(くべつ) する	distinguish ★★★☆☆ 区 (ward) + 別 (separate) = 区別 (distinguish) to make a distinction - to tell one thing from another - 2 synonyms, for instance. or 2 similar-looking kanji
性別(せいべつ)	gender ★★☆☆☆ 性 (sex / essential nature) + 別 (separate) = 性別 (gender)

Lookalikes

	Meaning	Hint	Radical
別	separate	MOUTH	口
列	row	SHHH!!

The MOUTH is loud which makes it separate
from the row of people saying SHHH!

Synonyms

different
別の他のよその

differ
異なる差食い違い相違間隔区別距離

especially
特に別に

tell the difference, discriminate
区別差別