How do you say "to cut" in Japanese?

切る

kiru

Verb Kanji

In Japanese, "to cut" is 切る (kiru).

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Pronunciation

切る is written using kanji. Romanised as kiru, it sounds roughly like "kee-roo" to an English ear.

Writing and usage

The kanji 切 depicts a knife or blade with a cutting motion, one of the most fundamental kanji for this action. Appears in many compound cutting words.

Example sentence

一緒に切ますか？

Issho ni kimasu ka?

Shall we to cut together?

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How to remember 切る

A knife slicing through. The kanji shape suggests sharp edges cutting through material.

Related words

Browse all Japanese words in the glossary.

See more Japanese verbs.

Questions about 切る

How do you pronounce 切る?

切る is romanised as kiru. Say it roughly like "kee-roo" in English. Each Japanese syllable has even weight, so keep the rhythm steady.

Is 切る formal or casual?

切る is a neutral, everyday word that works in both casual and polite speech. The level of formality comes from the sentence structure around it, not from the word itself.

How is 切る written in Japanese?

切る is written using kanji. The kanji 切 depicts a knife or blade with a cutting motion, one of the most fundamental kanji for this action.

Where can I practice Japanese words for free?

You can play free Japanese minigames in your browser on the Noun Town online games page, with no sign-up needed. Every word in the Japanese glossary also has native audio and an example sentence you can revisit any time.

"To cut" in other languages

Curated by Callan Ratcliffe

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