Quadruple VS
Synonym Boundary: "切ります", "切る", "きる", "断ち切る"
All represent the core concept "cut", but require precise selection.
Japanese Option A
切ります
きります (kirimasu)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option B
切る
きる (kiru)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option C
きる
きる (kiru)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option D
断ち切る
たちきる (tachikiru)
N2 / CEFR
Quadruple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
When expressing "cut" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "切ります", "切る", "きる", "断ち切る" based on context.
- 切ります (きります (kirimasu) - Level: N5): Maps to "to cut, to sever" and is used when Transitive verb. Used for cutting with a sharp object, or for ending a phone call..
- 切る (きる (kiru) - Level: N5): Maps to "to cut" and is used when ハサミやナイフなどで物を二つ以上に分けるときに使います。Polite form is 切ります.
- きる (きる (kiru) - Level: N5): Maps to "to cut" and is used when Used for cutting various things.
- 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..
Context for "切ります"
はさみで紙を切ります。
I cut the paper with scissors.
Context for "切る"
紙をハサミで切ります。
I cut the paper with scissors.
Context for "きる"
パンを切ってください。
Please cut the bread.
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.
Synonym Mastery Challenge
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" is correct here because it represents "to cut, to sever" in the context: "I cut the paper with scissors.".