The Meaning of kiru [切る] In Japanese

切る
きる
Romaji: kiru N5

What does 切る mean?

Translation and Meaning

to cut, to sever, to turn off, to end, to finish

Definition

What does 切る (kiru) mean? 切る (kiru) primarily means to separate or divide by applying force or a decision; in usage it covers physically cutting an object, severing a connection, or bringing an ongoing action or relationship to an end, so the core concept is making a clear break or stop.

Type

verb, transitive u-verb (Godan verb – 五段動詞)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • To switch off electricity, lights or appliances — used when ending power or signal.
  • To terminate a phone call or disconnect a line, commonly used in telephony contexts.
  • As an auxiliary 〜切る (~kiru) it denotes doing something completely or to the limit, often adding the sense “to finish entirely.”
  • To break a record or cross a numerical threshold in measurements and timing.
  • To cut short or interrupt an action or conversation abruptly.

Etymology

The verb 切る (kiru) is inherited from Old Japanese, tracing to a Proto-Japonic root *kir- meaning ‘cut/separate’; phonetic continuity appears across historical stages of Japanese with minimal sound change, preserving the basic verb stem and its conjugational pattern into modern Japanese.

Composition

The single kanji 切 (き in parts) combines the knife radical 刂 (knife, indicating the action of cutting) with a left-hand component historically written as 七 that functions as a phonetic/graphic element; the verb ending る marks the dictionary form and inflection class of the verb 切る (kiru), so the character conveys the idea of slicing or severing while る turns it into the verbal action.

Usage

Used across daily speech, technical and formal registers with differences in politeness and compounds; common in kitchens and craftwork for literal actions, in phone and IT contexts for disconnecting signals, and in conversational commands or reports when stopping or finishing something; the verb is usually transitive and appears in casual forms, polite conjugations, and as part of compound verbs and auxiliaries to change nuance.
💡 Tips
Visualize a knife slicing through the number seven: 切 (kiru) — the left part looks like a 7 and the right like a blade, so a blade + seven = cutting action.

Variations

  • 断つ (tatsu) — to sever or stop (often used for abstract breaks, more formal).
  • 切断する (setsudansuru) — to cut off or sever (technical/medical term).
  • 中止する (chuushi suru) — to suspend or cancel (near antonym in the sense of stopping planned activity).
  • 繋ぐ (tsunagu) — to connect or link (antonym).

Example Phrases

  • 道を 横切る 猫を 見て 私は 笑った。
    Michi o yokogiru neko o mite watashi wa waratta.
    I laughed after seeing a cat cross the road.
    Lista:
    • 道を (michi o) – the road
    • 横切る (yokogiru) – to cross
    • 猫を (neko o) – the cat
    • 見て (mite) – seeing
    • 私は (watashi wa) – I
    • 笑った (waratta) – laughed
    Core grammar: 横切る é verbo que significa ‘cruzar’; aqui ele forma uma oração relativa antes de 猫, como 「道を横切る猫」, isto é, ‘o gato que atravessa a rua’.
切る