🦅 Project Eagle
Quadruple VS

Synonym Boundary: "切る", "きる", "割り込む", "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

割り込む

わりこむ (warikomu)
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 "切る", "きる", "割り込む", "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.
  • 割り込む (わりこむ (warikomu) - Level: N2): Maps to "to cut into (a line), to interrupt, to butt in, to squeeze in" and is used when Implies rudeness or inappropriateness by entering a space, conversation, or line without permission or disrupting the order. Can be literal.
  • 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 "割り込む"
列に割り込むのはやめなさい。後ろの人に迷惑ですよ。
Don't cut into the line. You're bothering the people behind you.
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.".

💡 Practice with AI! Live

Don't just read. Practice speaking this grammar with our interactive AI coach for free!

Try AI Speaking 👉