How to say "slash" in Japanese
Choosing the right word
- nounCovers the punctuation mark '/'. This is a loanword used mainly when talking about the symbol itself in writing, URLs, or typography, not about cutting anything.
- 斬撃ざんげきnounA noun for a slashing attack, typically with a sword or blade. It suits descriptions of combat in games, fiction, or martial contexts rather than everyday cutting.
- 薙ぎ払うなぎはらうgodan verb, transitive verbA verb for slashing horizontally, sweeping across, and it extends to mowing down enemies or making a clean sweep of things. Best when the motion is a wide, sweeping cut.
- 掻き切るかききるgodan verb, transitive verbA verb meaning to cut or slit, with the nuance of slashing through something, often in one forceful stroke. It is a rather specific cutting verb and seldom the default choice for 'slash'.
- 切り立てるきりたてるichidan verb, transitive verbA verb meaning to slash or cut down repeatedly or in succession, with a sense of slaying all before one. It fits vivid descriptions of combat rather than ordinary cutting.
Use 「スラッシュ」 for the punctuation mark, 斬撃 for a slashing attack, and 「薙ぎ払う」, 「掻き切る」, or 「切り立てる」 for physical cutting, each with its own manner or nuance.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese equivalents
See also
