Japanese word

切る

Pronunciation

Romajikiru

Meaning

  • verbcut

Example

はさみで紙を切ります。ha sa mi de kami o ki ri ma su

I cut the paper with scissors.

Illustration for 切る (cut)

More examples

りんごを切ります。ri n go o ki ri ma su

I cut an apple.

話が終わったので、電話を切ります。hanashi ga o wa tta no de den wa o ki ri ma su

The conversation is over, so I hang up the phone.

Core concept

Describes moving a sharp edge through a material so that its parts separate.

Common phrases

  • 髪を切るkami o ki ru

    cut hair

  • 野菜を切るya sai o ki ru

    cut vegetables

  • 紙を切るkami o ki ru

    cut paper

  • 電話を切るden wa o ki ru

    hang up the phone

  • ケーキを切るkē ki o ki ru

    cut a cake

Similar words

切り取るkiritoru: To remove a piece from something by cutting it.
刻むkizamu: To cut something into small pieces or make marks in its surface.
切り分けるkiriwakeru: To divide food or another object into separate portions.

Definition in Japanese

刃物などで物を断ち、別々の状態にする。ha mono na do de mono o ta chi betsu betsu no jō tai ni su ru

Word origin

切る (kiru) is a native Japanese verb inherited from Old Japanese, with a core sense of separating or severing material.

Usage tips

  • The native verbs 切る (kiru) and 着る (kiru) look identical in romanization, but the first means cut and the second means put on clothes.

Other meanings

  • sliceverb

Opposites

Related words

  • 切り方kirikataway of cuttingnoun
  • 切り取りkiritoricutting outnoun

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