Translation guide
The English word "chop" has several distinct meanings. This guide covers the most common ones for learners: cutting food, chopping wood, a quick strike, and idiomatic uses like "chop and change."
To cut food, especially vegetables or meat, into smaller pieces using a knife.
General verb for chopping or mincing food into small pieces. Often used for vegetables, herbs, etc.
Please chop the onion finely.
The basic verb for 'cut'. Can be used for chopping when the cutting action is clear from context, but less specific than 刻む.
Chop the carrots into small pieces.
To chop into chunks or rough pieces, often used for meat or fish. Implies a less precise cut.
Please chop the chicken into chunks.
To split wood using an axe or similar tool.
A swift, cutting strike, often with the hand or a tool.
Loanword from English, commonly used in martial arts or wrestling contexts for a 'chop' strike.
He delivered a chop to his opponent.
Literally 'hand sword', a karate chop. More formal or technical term.
General verb for 'hit' or 'strike'. Can be used for a chopping motion if context is clear, but not specific.
To keep changing one's mind, plans, or loyalties frequently.
Describes a person who changes their mind easily. Not a direct translation of 'chop and change' but conveys the meaning naturally.
He chops and changes so much that we can't settle on a plan.
Colloquial phrase meaning to change one's policy or direction frequently and whimsically. コロコロ is an onomatopoeia for something rolling or changing easily.
To be fired from a job or to have something terminated.
The loanword チョップ is only used for a striking motion (like in wrestling or martial arts). For chopping food, use 刻む or 切る.
chop vegetables (unnatural)
The karate chop is powerful.
He chopped the board with his hand.
That company chops and changes its policies, so I can't trust them.
Many employees got the chop due to the recession.