Synonym Comparison
The Nuance Difference: "切ります" vs "持ちます"
Master the exact conceptual boundary between these Japanese terms.
Japanese Term A
切ります
きります (kirimasu)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
VS
Japanese Term B
持ちます
もちます (mochimasu)
N5 / CEFR Syllabus
Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
In Japanese, both 切ります and 持ちます are often translated to English but have distinct usages.
切ります (きります (kirimasu)) represents "to cut, to sever" (Level: N5) and typically represents Transitive verb. Used for cutting with a sharp object, or for ending a phone call..
On the other hand, 持ちます (もちます (mochimasu)) translates to "to hold, to carry, to possess" (Level: N5) and is used for Polite form of 持つ. Mixing these up can sound unnatural to native Japanese speakers!
Bilingual Sentence for "切ります"
はさみで紙を切ります。
I cut the paper with scissors.
Bilingual Sentence for "持ちます"
鞄をしっかり持ちます。
I hold my bag firmly.
Nuance Mastery Quiz
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "はさみで紙を ＿＿＿ 。" (Meaning: "I cut the paper with scissors.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "切ります" fits here because it represents "to cut, to sever" in the context: "I cut the paper with scissors.".