ChiramiN4 kanji · 4 strokes
切 means cut
七 to cut (its old meaning) · 刀 knife
切Real origin
七 first meant to cut; add a knife (刀): to cut.
Real origin: where the kanji comes from, as far as scholars agree.
Meaning and readings
- Meanings
- cut, cutoff, be sharp
- JLPT level
- N4
- Strokes
- 4
- School grade
- Grade 2 in Japan
Japanese (kunyomi) きる kiru
きる (kiru) is the Japanese word for this kanji. You use it when the kanji stands alone or has kana after it. Dictionaries call this the kun reading.
Other Japanese readings: きり kiri, きれる kireru, きれ kire
From Chinese (onyomi) セツ setsu
セツ (setsu) came from Chinese with the character. You mostly hear it in words made of several kanji. Dictionaries call this the on reading.
Other readings from Chinese: サイ sai
Tap a reading to see when it's used. Why kanji have two kinds of reading: onyomi vs kunyomi.
Common word
切る きる · kiru
to cut, to cut through
Built from
- 刀 knife, sword
- 匕 spoon
Tap a part to see the N5 and N4 kanji that use it.
刀 Used in 33 kanji
匕 Used in 56 kanji
See all 5 at N5 and N4Quick check
What does 切 mean?
Right: 切 means cut.Not quite: 切 means cut.In 切る, which reading does 切 use?
Right. 切る is read きる (kiru): 切 takes き, its Japanese reading, with る after it.Not quite. 切る is read きる (kiru): 切 takes き, its Japanese reading, with る after it.