Translation guide
The English verb 'shear' has several distinct meanings: cutting wool from sheep, cutting hair or other materials with shears, and a technical sense of deformation under stress. This guide focuses on the most common meaning for learners—removing wool from sheep—and also covers related cutting actions and the technical usage.
To remove the wool from a sheep using shears or clippers.
The most common and natural way to say 'shear a sheep'. Literally 'cut hair/fur', but in context it clearly means shearing.
春になると羊の毛を刈ります。
In spring, we shear the sheep.
A more technical term for shearing, often used in agricultural or industrial contexts.
この農場では年に一度剪毛する。
On this farm, they shear once a year.
To cut something using a scissor-like tool, such as hair, hedges, or metal.
Used for cutting grass, hedges, or hair. The object determines the context. For hair, '髪を刈る' is common but can imply a close crop.
庭の生け垣を刈った。
I sheared the hedge in the garden.
General verb for cutting. Use with tools like shears or scissors. For hair, '髪を切る' is the standard way to say 'cut hair'.
彼女は自分の髪を切った。
She sheared off her own hair.
Technical term for shearing materials like metal or fabric in engineering contexts.
金属板を剪断する機械。
A machine that shears metal plates.
In physics or engineering, when a material is deformed by opposing forces.
Technical term for shear deformation. Used in materials science.
この素材は剪断変形しやすい。
This material shears easily.
Alternative term for shear deformation, emphasizing the sliding motion.
地震で地層がずれ変形した。
The strata sheared due to the earthquake.
In English, 'shear' often implies using large shears or a specific tool. In Japanese, '切る' (cut) is more natural for general cutting with scissors. Reserve '刈る' for cutting grass, hedges, or wool, and '剪断' for technical contexts.