កាត់
kat
The English phrase 'cut' is translated into Khmer as កាត់ (kat).
The verb កាត់ is used broadly for cutting objects like paper, hair or plants, as well as for trimming or pruning. When used in the context of amounts or levels, such as prices or weight, the phrase is often expanded to កាត់បន្ថយ.
Meaning: to divide with a sharp instrument (verb)
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is kat.
Did you know?
- The word កាត់ is used in the phrase for 'cutting' hair, but the act of a haircut is often viewed as more than a trim. In some traditional contexts, cutting hair is associated with significant life transitions or religious vows.
- While កាត់ means to cut, if you want to say you are 'cutting' a conversation short or interrupting someone, you would use a different verb entirely.
- The verb កាត់ is used when talking about 'cutting' a class or skipping school. This is a colloquial usage that moves the meaning from a physical action to a social transgression.
Examples in context
- កាត់សក់To cut hair
- ខ្ញុំត្រូវកាត់សាច់សត្វ។khnom trov kat sach sat.I have to cut the meat.
- សូមកាត់ក្រដាសនេះឱ្យខ្ញុំ។som kat krodas nis oy khnom.Please cut this paper for me.
- គាត់កំពុងកាត់នំខេក។koat kampong kat nom cake.He is cutting the cake.
Example conversation
Rataneka and Sokha are preparing food in the kitchen.
- សុខា Sokhaរតនៈ ជួយកាត់បន្លែនេះបន្តិចបានទេ?Rataneka chuoy kat bonlae nis bontech ban te?Rataneka, can you help cut these vegetables for a bit?
- រតនៈ Ratanakបានបាទ សុខា។ban bat Sokha.Yes, I can, Sokha.
- សុខា Sokhaសូមកាត់វាឱ្យតូចៗ។som kat vea oy toch toch.Please cut them into small pieces.
- រតនៈ Ratanakខ្ញុំនឹងធ្វើវាឥឡូវនេះ។khnhom nung thveu vea eylov nis.I will do it right now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “cut” translations and entries កាត់, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
