切 · to cut, important

JLPT N4 kanji. Readings, meaning, and how the character is built.

切 means to cut, important. It is a JLPT N4 kanji written in 4 strokes, read きる or せつ. It is built from 2 parts: 七 (seven), 刀 (sword, saber). It appears in 切手 (postal (postage) stamps) and 切符 (a ticket).

筆順 · Stroke order

切 is written in 4 strokes, in the order numbered below. Order matters: it is what makes handwriting legible, and it is how the character is looked up in a paper dictionary.

解字 · What it is made of

切 breaks into 2 parts.

• 七 other seven · left component
• 刀 semantic sword, saber · right carries the meaning

Words that use 切

Word	Reading	Meaning
切手	きって	postal (postage) stamps
切符	きっぷ	a ticket
切る	きる	to cut

Built from the same parts

These use 七 or 刀 too. The part keeps its job from one character to the next, which is what makes it worth learning once.

• 初first

Practise 切

Sumi teaches the character before it tests you: stroke order animated, the breakdown above shown as a pull-apart X-ray, then spaced review. Free, in your browser, no signup.

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