Translation guide
The English phrase "cut up" has several distinct meanings: to cut something into pieces, to behave in a silly or disruptive way, to criticize someone severely, and a few other less common uses. This guide helps learners choose the right Japanese expression for each meaning.
To divide something into smaller parts using a sharp tool.
General verb for cutting. Can be used for cutting up vegetables, paper, etc.
野菜を小さく切ってください。
Please cut the vegetables into small pieces.
To cut up finely or mince. Emphasizes cutting into many small pieces.
Mince the garlic and add it.
Literally 'cut finely'. A common phrase for cutting into small pieces.
Please cut the meat into small pieces.
To chop roughly or hack apart. Casual and forceful.
He hacked the fish apart on the cutting board.
To act foolishly, joke around, or cause a disturbance, often in a group setting.
To mess around, joke, or act silly. Can be used for playful or annoying behavior.
I was cutting up in class and got scolded by the teacher.
To clown around or act playfully, often to make others laugh. Less negative than ふざける.
To engage in mischievous or prankish behavior. Implies crossing a line.
Their cutting up went too far and caused an accident.
To attack someone verbally, often in a harsh or detailed manner.
To criticize harshly, tear apart. Strong word used for reviews or personal attacks.
The critic cut up his new work.
To give a scathing review or harsh criticism. More formal than こき下ろす.
The movie was cut up by critics.
To speak ill of someone, to trash-talk. Very colloquial.
He cut up his boss.
To wound someone with a sharp object, often resulting in multiple cuts.
To separate something abstract into smaller sections, such as a text or a task.
The verb 切る only means physical cutting. To express 'cutting up' as in joking or misbehaving, use ふざける or similar words.
He was cutting up in class.
ふざける can be negative (messing around) or positive (joking). おどける is specifically playful clowning, often with gestures or funny faces, and is usually positive.
He's always cutting up and making everyone laugh.