切きれ味あじ

き

れ

あ

じ

Common wordFreq.FrequencyTop 50,000

Meanings

1

noun

sharpness; cutting ability

Describes the quality of a blade's edge; how well it cuts. Can be used literally for knives, swords, scissors, etc.

この包ほう丁ちょうは切きれ味あじがいい。
This kitchen knife cuts well.
研といだ後あとの切きれ味あじを試ためす。
Test the sharpness after sharpening.

2

noun

incisiveness; quickness of wit; skill

Figurative extension: sharpness of mind, speech, or performance. Used for clever remarks, keen analysis, or technical brilliance.

彼かれの議ぎ論ろんには切きれ味あじがある。
His arguments are incisive.
あのピアニストの演えん奏そうは切きれ味あじが鋭するどい。
That pianist's performance is technically brilliant.

3

noun

peppiness (of a ball)

Sports term: describes a ball's lively, sharp movement (e.g., in baseball or tennis).

彼かれの投なげるボールは切きれ味あじが違ちがう。
The ball he throws has exceptional movement.

Written forms

切きれ味あじUsage95%
Standard spelling; the most common written form.
斬きれ味あじUsage4%
Emphasizes cutting with a blade; used especially for swords.
切きれ味あじUsage1%
irregular okurigana
Irregular okurigana usage; less common.
きれあじUsage1%
斬味きれあじ
irregular okurigana
Irregular okurigana usage; less common.

Kanji

切cut, cutoff, be sharp
味flavor, taste
斬beheading, kill, murder

Similar words

鋭するどさ
鋭さ is a more general word for sharpness (of blades, senses, or minds), while 切れ味 specifically implies cutting performance or incisive quality.
切きれ
切れ is a suffix or noun meaning 'sharpness' or 'cutting quality', often used in compounds like 包丁の切れ. 切れ味 is a more common standalone noun for the same concept.

Etymology

Compound of 切れ (kire, 'cutting', continuative form of 切る) + 味 (aji, 'flavor, taste'), literally 'cutting flavor'. The figurative use for sharpness of wit or skill is a natural extension of the blade metaphor.