Translation guide
The English phrase "cut up" has several distinct meanings: to cut something into pieces, to behave in a silly or disruptive way, to criticize someone severely, and a few other less common uses. This guide helps learners choose the right Japanese expression for each meaning.
To divide something into smaller parts using a sharp tool.
General verb for cutting. Can be used for cutting up vegetables, paper, etc.
Please cut the vegetables into small pieces.
To cut up finely or mince. Emphasizes cutting into many small pieces.
にんにくを切り刻んで入れる。
Mince the garlic and add it.
Literally 'cut finely'. A common phrase for cutting into small pieces.
肉を細かく切ってください。
Please cut the meat into small pieces.
To chop roughly or hack apart. Casual and forceful.
まな板の上で魚をぶった切った。
He hacked the fish apart on the cutting board.
To act foolishly, joke around, or cause a disturbance, often in a group setting.
To mess around, joke, or act silly. Can be used for playful or annoying behavior.
授業中にふざけて先生に怒られた。
I was cutting up in class and got scolded by the teacher.
To clown around or act playfully, often to make others laugh. Less negative than ふざける.
彼はいつもおどけてみんなを笑わせる。
He's always cutting up and making everyone laugh.
To engage in mischievous or prankish behavior. Implies crossing a line.
悪ふざけが過ぎて事故になった。
Their cutting up went too far and caused an accident.
To attack someone verbally, often in a harsh or detailed manner.
To criticize harshly, tear apart. Strong word used for reviews or personal attacks.
批評家に新作をこき下ろされた。
The critic cut up his new work.
To give a scathing review or harsh criticism. More formal than こき下ろす.
その映画は酷評された。
The movie was cut up by critics.
To speak ill of someone, to trash-talk. Very colloquial.
彼は上司をぼろくそに言った。
He cut up his boss.
To wound someone with a sharp object, often resulting in multiple cuts.
To slash or cut at someone. Implies an attack.
犯人は被害者をナイフで切りつけた。
The assailant cut up the victim with a knife.
To cut to pieces, shred. Emphasizes the result of being badly cut.
彼の手はガラスでずたずたに切られた。
His hand was cut up by the glass.
To separate something abstract into smaller sections, such as a text or a task.
To divide, split up. Used for tasks, documents, etc.
レポートを章ごとに分割する。
Cut up the report by chapter.
To subdivide into smaller units. More formal.
作業を細分化して効率を上げる。
Cut up the work to improve efficiency.
The verb 切る only means physical cutting. To express 'cutting up' as in joking or misbehaving, use ふざける or similar words.
彼は授業中にふざけていた。
He was cutting up in class.
ふざける can be negative (messing around) or positive (joking). おどける is specifically playful clowning, often with gestures or funny faces, and is usually positive.