Japanese kanji 切: cut

The idea

Common Chinese-derived readings include セツ. Japanese-origin readings include きる・きれる. Compare 切る (きる) with 切符 (きっぷ). 切 has 4 strokes; follow their order in the linked KanjiVG diagram.

Examples

• 駅えきで切符きっぷを買かいます。I buy a ticket at the station.
• 切手きってを買かいます。I buy a postage stamp.
• このケーキを切きってください。Please cut this cake.
• 友情ゆうじょうはとても大切たいせつです。Friendship is very important.
• 大切たいせつな事ことを話はなします。I will talk about something important.
• 紙かみをはさみで切きります。I cut the paper with scissors.

Watch out

切符 and 切手 contain a small っ; 大切 means important, not cut. Compare 切 with 刀: look for 七 in 切.

Try it yourself

1. Write the reading of 切る in hiragana.

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   きる

   切る is read きる; the whole word means to cut.

2. Write the reading of 切符 in hiragana.

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   きっぷ

   切符 is read きっぷ; the whole word means ticket.

3. Fill in the missing kanji: ＿手（きって）.

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   切

   切 completes 切手, read きって; the whole word means postage stamp.

Use it today

Cover the table, write 切 from memory, and read 切る and 切符 aloud. Make a sentence, then check the readings and meanings.