Quintuple VS
Synonym Boundary: "切る", "きる", "切れる", "削減", "手を抜く"
All represent the core concept "cut", but require precise selection.
Japanese Option A
切る
きる (kiru)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option B
きる
きる (kiru)
N5 / CEFR
Japanese Option C
切れる
きれる (kireru)
N3 / CEFR
Japanese Option D
削減
さくげん (sakugen)
N3 / CEFR
Japanese Option E
手を抜く
てをぬく (tewonuku)
B2 / CEFR
Quintuple VS Nuance Contrast & Social Differences
When expressing "cut" in Japanese, you must carefully distinguish between "切る", "きる", "切れる", "削減", "手を抜く" based on context.
- 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.
- 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！』.
- 削減 (さくげん (sakugen) - Level: N3): Maps to "cut, reduction, curtailment" and is used when Used when describing a deliberate reduction of something, often expenses, costs, or staff, for efficiency..
- 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 "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 "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 "削減"
経費の削減が急務です。
Reducing expenses is an urgent task.
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: "紙をハサミで切ります。" (Meaning: "I cut the paper with scissors.")
🎉 Correct Answer!
Remember: "切る" is correct here because it represents "to cut" in the context: "I cut the paper with scissors.".