Readings: セツ, サイ (Onyomi), きる, きれる, きり, -きり, -ぎり (Kunyomi)
Meaning: Cut, sever, end, be sharp
The kanji 切 is composed of the radical 刀 (katana, “sword”) and 七 (shichi/nana, “seven,” used phonetically). It depicts a knife cutting something, implying actions like cutting, slicing, or severing.
View JLPT N4 Kanji ListHow to Write – Stroke Order
The kanji 切 has 4 strokes. It begins with a horizontal stroke, followed by a vertical stroke, then a diagonal stroke from top-right to bottom-left, and finally a hook-like stroke on the right.
Kanji Details
| Radical | 刀 |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 4 |
| JLPT Level | N4 |
| Grade | 2 |
Readings with English Transcription
Onyomi (Chinese readings)
- セツ (SETSU)
- サイ (SAI)
Kunyomi (Japanese readings)
- きる (kiru)
- きれる (kireru)
- きり (kiri)
- -きり (-kiri)
- -ぎり (-giri)
Common Words Using 切
Onyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 大切 | たいせつ | important, precious |
| 親切 | しんせつ | kindness, gentle |
| 一切 | いっさい | all, entirely (often with negatives) |
| 適切 | てきせつ | appropriate, suitable |
| 切符 | きっぷ | ticket |
| 切開 | せっかい | incision, cutting open |
| 切断 | せつだん | cutting, severance |
| 切望 | せつぼう | earnest desire, longing |
| 切迫 | せっぱく | urgency, pressure |
| 取引 | とりひき | transaction, deal |
Kunyomi Readings
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 切る | きる | to cut, to turn off, to hang up |
| 切れる | きれる | to be cut, to cut well, to run out |
| 切り | きり | end, section, limit |
| 締め切り | しめきり | deadline |
| 売り切れ | うりきれ | sold out |
| 手切れ | てぎれ | breaking off a relationship |
| 切り取り | きりとり | cutting off, clipping |
| 切り札 | きりふだ | trump card |
| 切り絵 | きりえ | paper cutout |
| 切り傷 | きりきず | cut, gash |
Example Sentences
Japanese: このハサミはよく切れる。
Kana: このハサミはよくきれる。
Romaji: Kono hasami wa yoku kireru.
English: This pair of scissors cuts well.
Japanese: 紙を切ってください。
Kana: かみをきってください。
Romaji: Kami o kitte kudasai.
English: Please cut the paper.
Japanese: 電話を切りました。
Kana: でんわをきりました。
Romaji: Denwa o kirimashita.
English: I hung up the phone.
Japanese: 電源を切ってください。
Kana: でんげんをきってください。
Romaji: Dengen o kitte kudasai.
English: Please turn off the power.
Japanese: 肉を薄く切る。
Kana: にくをうすくきる。
Romaji: Niku o usuku kiru.
English: Cut the meat thinly.
Japanese: 締め切りは明日です。
Kana: しめきりはあしたです。
Romaji: Shimekiri wa ashita desu.
English: The deadline is tomorrow.
Japanese: チケットを二枚買いました。
Kana: チケットをにまいかいました。
Romaji: Chiketto o nimai kaimashita.
English: I bought two tickets.
Japanese: 彼の親切に感謝しています。
Kana: かれのしんせつにかんしゃしています。
Romaji: Kare no shinsetsu ni kansha shiteimasu.
English: I appreciate his kindness.
Japanese: この本は大切にしてください。
Kana: このほんはたいせつにしてください。
Romaji: Kono hon wa taisetsu ni shite kudasai.
English: Please take good care of this book.
Japanese: ケーキを均等に切り分けました。
Kana: ケーキをきんとうにきりわけました。
Romaji: Kēki o kintō ni kiriwakemashita.
English: I cut the cake into equal portions.
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