128
切
Cut
き(る) (kiru), き(れる) (kireru)
JLPT N4
Interesting Fact
Traditional Japanese kirigami (切り紙) transforms a single sheet of paper into beautiful works of art using only careful folds and cuts. ✂️ Snowflakes, flowers, cranes, and entire landscapes can emerge from one piece of paper. The magic isn't in adding anything—it's in knowing exactly where to cut.
Memory Trick
🪵 A samurai's blade(刂) is so sharp that one swing leaves two clean horizontal cuts in a block of wood.
Readings
Onyomi: セツ (setsu), サイ (sai)
Kunyomi: き(る) (kiru), き(れる) (kireru)
Example Words
切る
きる (kiru)
To cut
親切
しんせつ (shinsetsu)
Kindness
売り切れ
うりきれ (urikire)
Sold out
大切
たいせつ (taisetsu)
Important, precious
Example Sentence
はさみで 紙を 切ります。
はさみで かみを きります。
hasami de kami o kirimasu
I cut paper with scissors.