The Meaning of kireru [切れる] In Japanese

切れる
きれる
Romaji: kireru N5

What does 切れる mean?

Translation and Meaning

to cut, to be sharp, to be cut off, to run out, to snap, to be quick-witted

Definition

What does 切れる mean? It means to be sharp or to cut well, and it also describes things that become disconnected or exhausted; in use, it spans physical cutting, signal interruptions, and mental acuity.

Type

verb (ichidan)

Stroke Order

Meanings

  • be sharp or cut well — used for blades, tools, and metaphorically for a keen mind
  • to be cut off or disconnected — for calls, signals, or power
  • to run out or expire — used with time or resources in some contexts
  • to be quick-witted or mentally sharp — common in phrases like 頭が切れる

Composition

  • 切: a kanji meaning cut, edge, or sever; れる: an ichidan verb ending that turns the root into an intransitive state; together they form 切れる, to be capable of cutting or to be cut

Usage

Used intransitively across casual and formal speech to describe physical cutting, sharpness, or the ending of a connection; common patterns include 包丁はよく切れる and 電話が切れる, with slang usage in キレる to indicate sudden anger or temper, especially in informal conversation.
💡 Tips
Mnemonic: picture a razor labeled CUT with a bright edge; the image of a clean, precise cut helps recall that 切れる covers both physical sharpness and the resulting state (be cut, be cut off, or be sharp mentally).

Variations

  • 鋭い (surudoi) — sharp
  • 鋭利な (eiri na) — keen, razor-sharp
  • 頭が切れる (atama ga kireru) — quick-witted
  • 鈍い (nibui) — dull
  • キレる (kireru) — slang meaning to snap or lose one’s temper

Example Phrases

  • この 貧弱な 回線 が 会議 中 に 切れる。
    Kono hinjaku na kaisen ga kaigi chuu ni kireru.
    This weak connection cuts out during the meeting.
    Lista:
    • この (kono) – this
    • 貧弱な (hinjaku na) – weak/poor
    • 回線 (kaisen) – connection
    • が (ga) – subject marker
    • 会議 (kaigi) – meeting
    • 中 (chuu) – middle
    • に (ni) – to/at
    • 切れる (kireru) – to disconnect
    貧弱 is a na-adjective; here it appears as 「貧弱な」回線, meaning a weak/poor connection.
切れる