How to say "cutting" in Japanese

• カットJLPT N1approx.Common
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbThe loanword for a cut or the act of cutting, as in a haircut or a cut in a film; at home in casual, everyday speech.
  1/4カットの白菜はくさいを太ふとめの千切せんぎりにザクザク切きる。↗

  Cut the quartered pak-choi into, slightly wide, strips.
• 切断せつだんCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbCutting something through or off — severing a cable or a power line, or, in a medical setting, amputation; the natural word when cutting means separating or severing.
  強風きょうふうのため電線でんせんが数箇所すうかしょで切断せつだんされた。↗

  The strong wind cut the electric wires in several places.
• 裁断さいだんCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbCutting sheet material such as cloth or paper to size or shape, as in sewing or tailoring; the word to use when the thing being cut is fabric or paper.
  布ぬのに応おうじて服ふくを裁断さいだんせよ。↗

  Cut your coat according to your cloth.
• 切り抜ききりぬきCommon
  noun, suru verb, transitive verbNot the act of cutting but the thing cut out: a clipping from a newspaper or magazine, kept for a scrapbook. For cutting as an action it is seldom the word you want.
  箱ばこの中なかには新聞しんぶんや雑誌ざっしの切り抜きりぬきがあった。↗

  Inside the box were cuttings from newspapers and magazines.
• 刻みきざみCommon
  nounCutting something into small pieces — mincing or chopping, especially in preparing food; also a notch. Use it for the fine-chopping sense of cutting, not for cutting in general.

Choose 「カット」 for casual everyday cuts such as a haircut, 切断 for severing or cutting through, 裁断 for cloth and paper, 「刻み」 for chopping or mincing, and 「切り抜き」 only for clippings.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• カットcut
• 切断せつだんcutting
• 裁断さいだんcutting (cloth, paper, etc.)
• 切り抜ききりぬきclipping (of newspaper article, etc.)
• 刻みきざみmincing
• 切り取りきりとりcutting
• 挿し木さしきcutting
• カッティングcutting
• 切削せっさくcutting (e.g. metal)
• 削りけずりshaving
• 断裁だんさいcutting
• 裁ちたちcutting
• 裁ち物たちものcutting (cloth or paper)
• 裁ち方たちかたcutting
• 剔てきcutting
• 剪裁せんさいcutting
• 断截だんせつcutting
• 割断かつだんcutting (apart)
• 開削かいさくexcavation
• 切通しきりどおしroad (or railway) cut through hilly terrain
• 切土きりどearth cut
• じょきじょきsnip snip
• 舌鋒鋭いぜっぽうするどいsharp (tongue, criticism, etc.)
• とげとげしいsharp (words)
• 峻烈しゅんれつsevere
• 裁ち上がりたちあがり(tailor's) cutting
• 刻こくcarving
• スクラップclipping (from a newspaper, magazine, etc.)
• 切り出しきりだしlogging
• 鋭いするどいsharp (pain, tone, etc.)
• ずばっとcutting (forcefully, directly)