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道Nihongo Path

Word 2169 of 2920

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斬る

きる

to cut down with a sword, to slay; to criticise sharply

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Examples

  1. 侍は刀で敵を斬った。

    さむらいはかたなでてきをきった。

    The samurai cut down his enemy with his sword.

  2. その場面で主人公は相手を斬らずに立ち去る。

    そのばめんでしゅじんこうはあいてをきらずにたちさる。

    In that scene the hero walks away without cutting his opponent down.

  3. 昔の映画では、人を斬る場面がよく出てくる。

    むかしのえいがでは、ひとをきるばめんがよくでてくる。

    Old films often have scenes of people being cut down.

  4. この評論家は政治を鋭く斬ることで有名だ。

    このひょうろんかはせいじをするどくきることでゆうめいだ。

    This critic is famous for his sharp attacks on politics.

Common patterns

刀で斬る
to cut down with a sword
斬り合う
to fight with swords
世相を斬る
to take a sharp critical look at society

Memory tip

Same sound as 切る but a different kanji and a much narrower use: 斬る is cutting a living body with a blade, so it belongs to samurai stories. Cutting vegetables or paper is always 切る.

Kanji in this word

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What does 斬る mean?