Translation guide
A ripsaw is a saw designed for cutting wood along the grain (rip cutting). This guide covers how to express this specific tool in Japanese, along with related saw types and the action of rip cutting.
ripsaw (tool)
Referring to the specific type of saw used for cutting wood along the grain.
This is the standard, precise term for a ripsaw. It literally means 'vertical-cut saw', referring to cutting along the grain.
This ripsaw cuts well.
A shorter form often used in contexts where 'saw' is implied, such as in tool catalogs or among woodworkers.
A direct loanword from English. It is understood, especially in modern or Western woodworking contexts, but less common than the native term.
Cut the board with a ripsaw.
Describing the act of sawing wood along the grain.
The verb phrase meaning 'to rip cut' or 'to saw along the grain'. It uses the same '縦挽き' (vertical cut) concept.
Please rip cut this board.
A more general phrase meaning 'to cut vertically/lengthwise'. It can be used for rip cutting but is less specific.
Cut the wood along the grain.
Distinguishing a ripsaw from a saw used for cutting across the grain.
The standard term for a crosscut saw. Useful to know as the counterpart to a ripsaw.
A crosscut saw has a different tooth shape.
縦 (たて) means 'vertical' or 'lengthwise', and 挽き (びき) comes from 挽く (ひく), meaning 'to saw'. So 縦挽き literally means 'sawing lengthwise'.
In Japanese woodworking, saws are often categorized by the direction of cut relative to the grain. 縦挽き (ripsaw) cuts along the grain, while 横挽き (crosscut saw) cuts across the grain. Many Japanese pull saws (鋸) have different blades or tooth patterns for each purpose.
I use both the ripsaw and the crosscut saw properly.