斬きりかかる

き

り

か

る

Meanings

1

godan verb (-ru), transitive verb

slash at; stab at; assault with a sword

Describes a sudden, aggressive attack with a bladed weapon, often a sword or knife. The verb implies a forceful cutting or stabbing motion directed at someone.

男おとこは突とつ然ぜん、通つう行こう人にんに斬きりかかった。
The man suddenly slashed at a passerby.
侍さむらいが刀かたなを抜ぬいて敵てきに斬き

り

かかる

。

The samurai draws his sword and attacks the enemy.

Written forms

斬きりかかるUsage71%
Standard kanji spelling using 斬 (cut/slash) and kana かかる; the most common written form.
切きり掛かかるUsage14%
Variant combining 切 and 掛かる; less common.
切きり掛かかるUsage14%
search-only kanji form
Search-only form with old-style 掛る; not recommended for active use.
切きりかかる
Variant using 切 (cut) instead of 斬; slightly less specific but still common.
斬きり掛かかる
Variant with 掛かる in kanji; less common but still encountered.

Kanji

斬beheading, kill, murder
切cut, cutoff, be sharp
掛hang, suspend, depend

Similar words

斬きる
斬る means 'to cut/slash (with a sword)' as a simple action, while 斬りかかる emphasizes the aggressive, lunging motion of attacking someone.
襲おそう
襲う is a broader term for 'attack/assault' and does not necessarily involve a blade, whereas 斬りかかる specifically implies a sword or knife attack.

Etymology

Compound of 斬り (continuative form of 斬る, 'to cut/slash') + かかる ('to go at, to attack'). The combination yields 'to go at someone with a cutting weapon'.