刻む|きざむkizamu[0]heiban (flat)

JLPT N2approx.Common
Definitions
  1. godan verb, transitive verbto mince; to cut fine; to chop up; to hash; to shred
  2. godan verb, transitive verbto carve; to engrave; to chisel; to notch
    彼かれは大理石だいりせきを刻きざんで像ぞうを作つくった。↗
    He carved marble into a statue.
  3. godan verb, transitive verbto tick away (time); to beat out (e.g. rhythm); to record the passing moments
  4. godan verb, transitive verbto etch (into one's mind); to remember distinctlyas 心に刻む, etc.
  5. godan verb, transitive verbto have tattooed
  6. godan verb, transitive verbto torment
Conjugation
Dictionary form刻む(きざむ)
Polite (masu)刻みます(きざみます)
Negative (nai)刻まない(きざまない)
polite (masen)刻みません(きざみません)
classical zu / nu刻まず・刻まぬ(きざまず・きざまぬ)
Past (ta)刻んだ(きざんだ)
polite (mashita)刻みました(きざみました)
Past negative (nakatta)刻まなかった(きざまなかった)
polite (masen deshita)刻みませんでした(きざみませんでした)
Te form刻んで(きざんで)
Potential刻める(きざめる)
Passive刻まれる(きざまれる)
Causative刻ませる(きざませる)
Causative passive刻ませられる・刻まされる(きざませられる・きざまされる)
Conditional (ba)刻めば(きざめば)
tara刻んだら(きざんだら)
Volitional刻もう(きざもう)
polite (mashou)刻みましょう(きざみましょう)
Imperative刻め(きざめ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym彫るほるNeutralCarves figures, patterns or letters, as in 「仏像を彫る」; leans toward sculpting in the round, while 「刻む」 also means chopping fine and marking time.
  • Related削るけずるNeutralAs an opposite: planing a surface flat and removing carvings runs counter to 「刻む」, which cuts grooves and patterns into a surface.
  • Related切るきるNeutralThe most common, general word for cutting; 「刻む」 specifically means chopping something fine or cutting notches and patterns into a surface.
  • Related彫り刻むほりきざむWrittenTo engrave or carve deeply into stone or wood; rare in actual use — in everyday speech 「刻む」 or 「彫る」 is what people say. A written/formal word.
  • Antonym滑らかにするNeutralMakes a surface smooth, the reverse of 「刻む」, which leaves raised and recessed patterns on it.

Use 「刻む」 for chopping fine, carving or engraving, and time ticking away, as in 「ネギを刻む」 and 「時を刻む」. For carving figures say 「彫る」, for ordinary cutting 「切る」, and for shaving a layer off 「削る」.

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

Japanese definitions
  1. 細こまかくきる。
  2. 彫刻ちょうこくする。
  3. 切れ目きれめを筋すじ状じょうにつける。
  4. 細こまかく区切くぎるように進行しんこうする。
  5. しっかりと記憶きおくする。
  6. 刺青しせいをする。
  7. 責せめて苦くるしめる。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents
See also

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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