切

• Pinyin: qiē
• Hanzi breakdown: 切 = 七 (seven, phonetic component) + 刀 (knife) — cutting with a blade

Meaning

To cut; to slice. A basic action verb for dividing something with a blade or sharp tool.

Commonly used for cutting food (切菜, 切肉, 切水果) and other materials. Often paired with specific cutting styles: 切片 (slice), 切丝 (shred), 切块 (dice). Note: also pronounced qiè in compounds like 一切 (everything), 亲切 (cordial), and 切实 (practical), which carry different meanings.

Examples

1. 请你帮我把这个西瓜切成小块。 Please help me cut this watermelon into small pieces.
2. 做饭之前要先把蔬菜切好。 Before cooking, you need to cut the vegetables first.
3. 他切洋葱的时候总是会流眼泪。 He always tears up when cutting onions.

Usage Guide

Context: cooking, everyday

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 把胡萝卜切成薄片。(Cut the carrots into thin slices.)
• 这把刀很锋利，切东西很方便。(This knife is very sharp; it cuts things easily.)

Don't Say

• 切头发 (Don't use 切 for cutting hair — use 剪 jiǎn instead; 切 implies slicing with a blade, not scissors)

Origin & History

The character 切 combines 七 (seven, phonetic) and 刀 (knife), pointing to the action of cutting with a blade.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal