Translation guide
The English word "cutting" can refer to the act of cutting, a piece cut off, a newspaper clipping, or a plant cutting. This guide covers the most common Japanese equivalents for each meaning.
The action or process of cutting something.
General term for cutting, severing, or disconnecting. Often used for cutting objects, wires, or connections.
Be careful when cutting the cable.
Refers to cutting or machining in industrial or technical contexts, such as metal cutting.
This factory performs metal cutting processes.
Cutting of cloth, paper, or similar materials, often with precision. Used in tailoring or bookbinding.
Please cut the cloth.
A piece that has been cut from something larger.
A small piece or scrap left after cutting, like a snippet of cloth or paper.
I made a doll from fabric cuttings.
Specifically a cut piece of fish or meat, like a fillet.
A thin slice or section, often used in scientific contexts (e.g., tissue samples).
An article or picture cut out from a publication.
A clipping from a newspaper or magazine, often kept for reference.
I pasted newspaper cuttings into a scrapbook.
A piece of a plant used for propagation.
A cutting planted to grow a new plant. Common in gardening.
I tried growing a rose from a cutting.
The actual shoot or stem used as a cutting. More technical than 挿し木.
Soak the cutting in water and wait for roots.
When 'cutting' is used as an adjective meaning 'sharp' or 'hurtful' (e.g., 'a cutting remark'), do not use the above nouns. Instead, use phrases like 辛辣な (しんらつな) or 痛烈な (つうれつな).
I was hurt by his cutting remark.
鮭の切り身を買った。
I bought a salmon cutting (fillet).
顕微鏡で組織の切片を観察した。
I observed a tissue cutting under the microscope.