切: the kanji for cut and important
切 is a JLPT N4 kanji that means cut, important. Below are its readings, 14 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
切 is written in 4 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
切 has 4 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 14 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
セツ (setsu)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 大切たいせつ · taisetsu | important; precious |
| 親切しんせつ · shinsetsu | kind |
| 適切てきせつ · tekisetsu | appropriate |
| 切実せつじつ · setsujitsu | earnest; pressing |
サイ (sai)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 一切いっさい · issai | all; (not) at all |
きる (kiru)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 切るきる · kiru | to cut; to hang up |
| 切手きって · kitte | postage stamp |
| 切符きっぷ · kippu | ticket |
| 締め切りしめきり · shimekiri | deadline |
| 売り切れうりきれ · urikire | sold out |
| 貸し切りかしきり · kashikiri | reserved for a private party |
| 踏切ふみきり · fumikiri | railroad crossing |
きれる (kireru)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 切れるきれる · kireru | to run out; to expire |
| 期限切れきげんぎれ · kigengire | expired |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 締め切りは金曜日です。Shimekiri wa kin'yōbi desu.The deadline is Friday.
- ご親切にありがとうございます。Go-shinsetsu ni arigatō gozaimasu.Thank you for your kindness.
- お客様との信頼を大切にしています。Okyakusama to no shinrai o taisetsu ni shite imasu.We value our customers' trust.
- 電話が切れてしまいました。Denwa ga kirete shimaimashita.The call got cut off.
- 今夜、店は貸し切りです。Kon'ya, mise wa kashikiri desu.The restaurant is reserved for a private party tonight.
- パスポートの期限が切れそうです。Pasupōto no kigen ga kiresō desu.My passport is about to expire.
Questions about 切
How many strokes does 切 have?
切 is written in 4 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 切?
The on readings are setsu (セツ), sai (サイ). The kun readings are kiru (きる), kireru (きれる).
What does 締め切り mean?
締め切り (shimekiri) is a deadline. 締め切りに間に合う (shimekiri ni maniau) means to meet a deadline. You may also see 〆切, a short way to write it.
What JLPT level is 切?
N4. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so this level is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used through 2009.
About the JLPT level
The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. The level on this page is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009. The JLPT states that the current N4 is designed to match the former Level 3.
More JLPT N4 kanji
Movement and actions
Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.
Sources
- Jōyō Kanji Table (常用漢字表), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, 2010: readings and special readings of 切
- JLPT Frequently Asked Questions, The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services: how current levels match the former levels
- Stroke order diagrams are based on KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The diagrams on this page are shared under the same license.