切 qiè — cut · English

切

qiè

cut

At a glance · 切

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Evolution of the glyph

Five stages, from a sketch of the real object to regular script — tap a stage, drag the timeline, or play the animation.

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seen
Oracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCE
Seal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCE
Clerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CE
Regular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

Object sketchBefore writing · drawing what was seenOracle boneShang dynasty · c. 1300–1046 BCESeal scriptQin dynasty · 221–206 BCEClerical scriptHan dynasty · 206 BCE–220 CERegular scriptWei–Jin to Tang · c. 3rd–9th century CE

⚠ Some ancient forms are not attested：oracle bone form、seal script form。No excavated oracle bone / seal artifact is attested for this character yet; we leave it blank rather than fabricate.

「切」从刀七声，小篆从刀七声，形声清晰。

What the sketch shows

Origins & notes

「切」本义为切割、切断，引申切磋、急切、切近。

Structure

从刀、七声，形声字，刀表义类，七表音，本为割切。

At a glance

Pinyinqiè

Radical刀

Strokes4

UnicodeU+5207

Character type形声

Theme动作

Six languages, one character

Each page offers hreflang versions; switching language keeps the glyphs and meanings aligned.

English cut cut, mince, slice, carve

Français polis / urgent Polir (par comparaison), urgent. «切磨箴规» : étudier par comparison.

Español pulir / urgente Pulir (por comparación), urgente. «切磨箴规»: estudiar comparando.

العربية يصقل / عاجل يصقل (بالمقارنة)، عاجل. «切磨箴规»: الدراسة بالمقارنة.

Русский точить / срочный Точить (через сравнение), срочный. «切磨箴规»: учиться в сравнении.

Common words

亲切qīn qièwarm
一切yī qièall

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