What is the difference between "切ります", "切る", "切れる", "手を抜く"?

"切ります" means "to cut, to sever", "切る" means "to cut", "切れる" means "to cut well; to break; to run out; to expire; to be sharp", "手を抜く" means "To cut corners".

Quadruple VS

Synonym Boundary: "切ります", "切る", "切れる", "手を抜く"

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

切れる

きれる (kireru)

N3 / 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 "切ります", "切る", "切れる", "手を抜く" 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.
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！』.
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..

Mixing these up can easily lead to unnatural translations. Refer to the bilingual context cards below to master the boundaries!

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 "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 "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: "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.".