切る|きるkiru[1]atamadaka (head-high)
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Definitions
- godan verb, transitive verbto cut; to cut through; to perform (surgery)
- godan verb, transitive verbto sever (connections, ties)
- godan verb, transitive verbto turn off (e.g. the light)
- godan verb, transitive verbto terminate (e.g. a conversation); to hang up (the phone); to disconnect
- godan verb, transitive verbto punch (a ticket); to tear off (a stub)
- godan verb, transitive verbto open (something sealed)
- godan verb, transitive verbto start
- godan verb, transitive verbto set (a limit); to do (something) in less or within a certain time; to issue (cheques, vouchers, etc.)
- godan verb, transitive verbto reduce; to decrease; to discount
- godan verb, transitive verbto shake off (water, etc.); to let drip-dry; to let drain
- godan verb, transitive verbto cross; to traverse
- godan verb, transitive verbto criticize sharply
- godan verb, transitive verbto act decisively; to do (something noticeable); to go first; to make (certain facial expressions, in kabuki)
- godan verb, transitive verbto turn (vehicle, steering wheel, etc.)
- godan verb, transitive verbto curl (a ball); to bend; to cut
- godan verb, transitive verbto shuffle (cards)
- godan verb, transitive verb, mahjongto discard a tile
- godan verb, transitive verbto dismiss; to sack; to let go; to expel; to excommunicate
- godan verb, transitive verbto dig (a groove); to cut (a stencil, on a mimeograph)
- godan verb, transitive verbto trump
- godan verb, transitive verb, goto cut (the connection between two groups)sometimes キる
- godan verb, transitive verbto start a fire (with wood-wood friction or by striking a metal against stone)also written as 鑽る
- godan verb, transitive verbto draw (a shape) in the air (with a sword, etc.)
- suffix, godan verbto do completely; to finish doingafter the -masu stem of a verb
- suffix, godan verbto be completely ...; to be totally ...; to be terribly ...after the -masu stem of a verb
- suffix, godan verbto do clearly; to do decisively; to do firmlyafter the -masu stem of a verb
Conjugation
| Dictionary form | 切る（きる） |
|---|---|
| Polite (masu) | 切ります（きります） |
| Negative (nai) | 切らない（きらない） |
| polite (masen) | 切りません（きりません） |
| classical zu / nu | 切らず・切らぬ（きらず・きらぬ） |
| Past (ta) | 切った（きった） |
| polite (mashita) | 切りました（きりました） |
| Past negative (nakatta) | 切らなかった（きらなかった） |
| polite (masen deshita) | 切りませんでした（きりませんでした） |
| Te form | 切って（きって） |
| Potential | 切れる（きれる） |
| Passive | 切られる（きられる） |
| Causative | 切らせる（きらせる） |
| Causative passive | 切らせられる・切らされる（きらせられる・きらされる） |
| Conditional (ba) | 切れば（きれば） |
| tara | 切ったら（きったら） |
| Volitional | 切ろう（きろう） |
| polite (mashou) | 切りましょう（きりましょう） |
| Imperative | 切れ（きれ） |
Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.
Transitive / intransitive pair
糸が切れる
糸を切る
切れる focuses on the thread breaking (often without an agent) or the resulting state, as in 糸が切れる; 切る focuses on an agent deliberately cutting the thread, as in 糸を切る.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Synonyms & antonyms
- Synonym切断せつだんWrittenSino-Japanese word for cutting something through or severing lines and ties, as in 「ケーブルが切断される」; more formal than 「切る」.
- SynonymカットNeutralLoanword for haircuts, cuts to content, and reductions, as in 「髪をカットする」「予算カット」.
- Related断ち切るたちきるNeutralMeans cutting something through, but is more often figurative — severing ties or breaking habits, as in 「未練を断ち切る」.
- Related断つたつWrittenWritten-style word for severing or giving something up, as in 「酒を断つ」「消息を断つ」; mostly used with abstract objects, not physical cutting.
- Related打ち切るうちきるNeutralTo stop or discontinue something partway through, as in 「連載を打ち切る」; its object is an ongoing activity, which 「切る」 does not imply.
- Related切り落とすきりおとすNeutralCuts a piece off and lets it drop, as in 「枝を切り落とす」; more specific than plain 「切る」.
- Related中止ちゅうしNeutralCancels a planned event or stops it midway, as in 「試合中止」; it only overlaps with 「切る」 in the sense of interruption.
- Related中断ちゅうだんNeutralA temporary stop partway through, after which things may continue, as in 「会議を中断する」.
- Related止めるとめるNeutralStops something that is moving or running, as in 「エンジンを止める」; for switches, 「切る」 specifically means cutting the power.
- Related停止ていしNeutralThe stopping of operation or activity, as in 「営業停止」; it leans formal.
- Related解消かいしょうNeutralDissolves relationships or arrangements and eliminates problems, as in 「契約を解消する」「ストレス解消」.
- Related裁断さいだんNeutralCutting cloth or paper to a pattern or measurements, as in 「生地を裁断する」; also means judgement or decision.
- Related仕切るしきるNeutralPartitions off a space, or means presiding over and running things, as in 「部屋を仕切る」「会を仕切る」.
- Related切り取るきりとるNeutralCuts out a portion and takes it away, as in 「記事を切り取る」; also figurative for quoting out of context.
- Related遮るさえぎるNeutralBlocks a view or light, or cuts into someone's speech, as in 「話を遮る」; the emphasis is on obstructing, not cutting.
- Related切り上げるきりあげるNeutralFinishing at a convenient point, as in 「仕事を切り上げる」; also rounding a number up.
- RelatedストップNeutralLoanword for stopping, as in 「ストップをかける」; common in colloquial speech.
- Related断ち割るたちわるWrittenWritten-style word for splitting or hewing something in two, as in 「木を断ち割る」.
- AntonymつなぐNeutralAntonym: to connect or tie things together, the opposite of cutting with 「切る」.
- Antonym接ぐつぐWrittenWritten-style antonym: to join or piece things together, as in 「骨を接ぐ」; also used for grafting plants.
「切る」 is the default for cutting things, severing ties, or turning off a switch. In formal prose, severed lines and connections take 「切断」; decisively breaking off ties or habits takes 「断ち切る」; discontinuing something ongoing takes 「打ち切る」; a temporary stop is 「中断」; and 「カット」 covers haircuts and cuts to text or budgets.
Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only
Japanese definitions
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also
