切 — Cut, Sever, Important

Meaning

The kanji 切 (せつ/き.る) is a common and versatile character, primarily conveying the meaning of 'cut' or 'sever'. Its applications are extensive, ranging from physical actions like slicing vegetables (野菜を切る) to abstract concepts such as 'disconnecting' ties (関係を切る), 'turning off' electricity (電気を切る), or even 'running out' of something (品切れになる).

Beyond its literal sense, 切 also extends to ideas of 'keenness,' 'earnestness,' 'importance,' or 'appropriateness' when used in various compound words. These meanings often imply a focused, direct, or decisive action or state, such as something being 'critically important' or 'fitting precisely'.

Historically, 切 is often explained as a semantic-phonetic compound. It combines two main components: the left side is 七 (shichi/nana), which here functions as a phonetic component or a simplified representation of a cutting motion. The right side is 刀 (かたな), the radical for 'sword' or 'knife'. Together, these components powerfully depict the action of cutting or using a blade.

This visual combination of a cutting action (often associated with 七) and the tool (刀) makes its core meaning of 'cut' very clear. You can easily remember 切 by imagining a knife (刀) making a precise slice (七). With only 4 strokes, it is a relatively simple kanji to write and is taught in Grade 2 of Japanese elementary school, making it a fundamental character for learners.

While 'cut' is its basic meaning, remember its versatility in expressing nuanced ideas. For instance, in 大切 (taisetsu, important), it suggests something that holds significant value. In 親切 (shinsetsu, kind), it conveys a sincere, heartfelt consideration.

Readings

On'yomi (音読み) — Chinese-derived readings

On'yomi are readings derived from Chinese and are typically used when the kanji forms part of a compound word. For 切, the primary on'yomi are セツ (setsu) and サイ (sai).

The reading セツ (setsu) is the more common of the two on'yomi. It appears in many essential vocabulary words and often relates to 'importance,' 'earnestness,' or a more abstract sense of 'cutting' or 'dividing'.

大切たいせつ (taisetsu) — important, precious, valuable
親切しんせつ (shinsetsu) — kind, thoughtful, gentle
適切てきせつ (tekisetsu) — appropriate, suitable, pertinent

The reading サイ (sai) is less frequent. You'll find it in specific compounds, where it can convey a sense of entirety, specific cutting actions, or even a particular type of relationship.

一切いっさい (issai) — all, everything; (with negative) absolutely not, not at all
切磋琢磨せっさたくま (sessatakuma) — to work hard and diligently together, to strive to improve oneself

Kun'yomi (訓読み) — Native Japanese readings

Kun'yomi are native Japanese readings, usually associated with individual kanji or kanji used as part of a verb stem or adjective. For 切, the main kun'yomi are き.る (kiru), き.れる (kireru), and き.り (kiri).

き.る (kiru) is a transitive verb. It means 'to cut', 'to slice', 'to chop', 'to sever', 'to switch off', or 'to hang up (a phone)'. This verb always requires a direct object.

紙かみを切きる (kami o kiru) — to cut paper
電気でんきを切きる (denki o kiru) — to turn off the light
電話でんわを切きる (denwa o kiru) — to hang up the phone

き.れる (kireru) is an intransitive verb. It means 'to be cut', 'to break', 'to snap', 'to run out', 'to expire', or 'to be sharp (referring to a blade)'. This verb describes a state or an action happening to the subject without a direct agent.

紐ひもが切きれる (himo ga kireru) — the string breaks
期限きげんが切きれる (kigen ga kireru) — the deadline expires
よく切きれる包丁ほうちょう (yoku kireru hōchō) — a sharp knife (literally, 'a knife that cuts well')

き.り (kiri) often appears as a suffix or part of compound nouns. It indicates a 'cut', 'end', 'limit', or 'break'.

区切くぎり (kugiri) — punctuation, division, a break, an end
締切しめきり (shimekiri) — deadline, closing date

Common Words & Compounds

Understanding 切 in context is crucial. Here are some common words and compounds, categorized by their nuanced meanings:

Actions of Cutting and Separation

切断せつだん (setsudan) — cutting, severance, amputation. This compound literally means 'cut' and 'break'.
切符きっぷ (kippu) — ticket. Historically, tickets were often physical pieces of paper 'cut' or punched to validate them.
切きり替かえ (kirikae) — change, switchover, substitution. Implies cutting from one state or option to another.
売切うりきれ (urikire) — sold out. Literally 'cut off from selling' or 'sold until nothing is left'.
切開せっかい (sekkai) — incision, cutting open (often in a medical context).

Qualities and States

大切たいせつ (taisetsu) — important, precious, valuable. This word combines 'big' (大) and 'cut', implying something that is of significant value or crucial.
親切しんせつ (shinsetsu) — kindness, kind. Combines 'parent' or 'intimacy' (親) with 'cut', suggesting a sincere, earnest, or heartfelt kindness.
適切てきせつ (tekisetsu) — appropriate, suitable, proper. Combines 'suitable' (適) with 'cut', implying something that fits the situation precisely.
切実せつじつ (setsujitsu) — keen, earnest, acute, heartfelt. Combining 'cut' with 'truth/reality' (実), conveying a profound or direct feeling.
一切いっさい (issai) — all, everything; (with negative) absolutely not. 'One' (一) and 'cut', denoting the entirety or a complete cut-off.

Time and Division

締切しめきり (shimekiri) — deadline, closing date. Combines 'fasten' or 'close' (締) with 'cut', marking the point where something is 'cut off' or completed.
区切くぎり (kugiri) — punctuation, division, an end. 'Section' (区) with 'cut', indicating a demarcation or break.
年ねんの切きり (nen no kiri) — the end of the year. Refers to the 'cut-off' point of the year.

Example Sentences

紙かみを切きってください。

Kami o kitte kudasai.

Please cut the paper.

電気でんきを切きってから出でかけましょう。

Denki o kitte kara dekakemashō.

Let's go out after turning off the light.

この包丁ほうちょうはよく切きれるので、気きをつけてください。

Kono hōchō wa yoku kireru node, ki o tsukete kudasai.

This knife is very sharp, so please be careful.

締切しめきりは来週らいしゅうの金曜日きんようびです。

Shimekiri wa raishū no kinyōbi desu.

The deadline is next Friday.

彼かれはいつも私わたしに親切しんせつにしてくれます。

Kare wa itsumo watashi ni shinsetsu ni shite kuremasu.

He is always kind to me.

これは私わたしにとってとても大切たいせつな本ほんです。

Kore wa watashi ni totte totemo taisetsu na hon desu.

This is a very important book to me.

駅えきで切符きっぷを買かってから電車でんしゃに乗のります。

Eki de kippu o katte kara densha ni norimasu.

I will buy a ticket at the station and then ride the train.

彼女かのじょは彼かれとの関係かんけいを切きることにしました。

Kanojo wa kare to no kankei o kiru koto ni shimashita.

She decided to sever ties with him.

会議かいぎは午後ごご3時じで区切くぎりとなります。

Kaigi wa gogo sanji de kugiri to narimasu.

The meeting will conclude at 3 PM.

古ふるい考かんがえを切きり替かえて、新あたらしいことに挑戦ちょうせんしましょう。

Furui kangae o kirikaete, atarashii koto ni chōsen shimashō.

Let's switch from old ways of thinking and challenge new things.

Related Kanji

Memory Tip

To remember 切, focus on its visual components. The radical on the right, 刀 (かたな), clearly means "sword" or "knife." On the left, we have 七 (しち/なな), which can be seen as representing the action of a cut or a slice. Imagine a sharp knife (刀) making a precise slice or cut (七) through an object.

Alternatively, you can visualize using a "knife" to "cut" the number "seven" into pieces. The strong visual presence of the knife radical makes the core meaning of 'cut' very straightforward and easy to recall, providing a solid foundation for remembering this kanji.