Quadruple VS
Synonym Boundary: "きる", "切れる", "断ち切る", "手を抜く"
All represent the core concept "cut", but require precise selection.
Japanese Option A
きる
きる (kiru)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option B
切れる
きれる (kireru)
N3 / CEFR
Japanese Option C
断ち切る
たちきる (tachikiru)
N2 / CEFR
Japanese Option D
手を抜く
てをぬく (tewonuku)
B2 / CEFR
Quadruple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
When expressing "cut" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "きる", "切れる", "断ち切る", "手を抜く" based on context.
- きる (きる (kiru) - Level: N5): Maps to "to cut" and is used when Used for cutting various things.
- 切れる (きれる (kireru) - Level: N3): Maps to "to cut well; to break; to run out; to expire; to be sharp" and is used when Refers to strings/connections breaking, knives cutting well, resources/stocks running out, or contract/warranty terms expiring. Intransitive verb. Opposing word: 切る. Often used as 糸が切れる or 期限が切れる. ⚠️ Haruka's Voice Column: 'To expire! "The warranty of my love for you has no expiration date, Haruka-san! It's permanent!" ...っ! N-No expiration date! B-Baka! That's too cheesy! But... since our love contract is permanent, make sure you never let the love battery run out! Understood?! dummy!' / 【ハルカ部長のワンポイント指導】『きれる（切れる）よ！『ハルカ部長、僕たちの愛の接続（コネクション）は、どんな大地震や通信障害が起きても絶対に切れる（断線する）ことのない強固な絆です！』って…っ！絆が切れない！バカ！/// そんなロマンチックな通信回線を宣言するんじゃないの！…切れないように、毎日あんたの愛のハグで回線のメンテナンスを24時間怠るんじゃないわよ！』.
- 断ち切る (たちきる (tachikiru) - Level: N2): Maps to "to cut off, to sever, to break (ties/relations), to give up (a bad habit)" and is used when Implies a strong, decisive act of completely ending or severing something, often an undesirable connection, habit, or feeling..
- 手を抜く (てをぬく (tewonuku) - Level: B2): Maps to "To cut corners" and is used when Essential structural term in CEFR B2 vocabulary syllabus..
Context for "きる"
パンを切ってください。
Please cut the bread.
Context for "切れる"
プリンターのインクカートリッジの残量が完全に_______ため、彼は新しいインクを購入して交換作業を行いました。
Because the remaining amount of the printer's ink cartridge had completely run out, he purchased a new ink and performed the replacement work.
Context for "断ち切る"
彼は悪い習慣を断ち切るために努力した。
He made an effort to break his bad habits.
Context for "手を抜く"
毎日、日本語を練習するために手を抜く。
Every day, I cut corners to practice Japanese.
Synonym Mastery Challenge
Which Japanese word perfectly fits this blank space?
Fill in the blank: "パンを切ってください。" (Meaning: "Please cut the bread.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "きる" is correct here because it represents "to cut" in the context: "Please cut the bread.".