자르다
jareuda
The English verb 'to cut' is translated into Korean as 자르다 (jareuda).
The standard way to say 'to cut' in Korean is 자르다, which refers to dividing something using a sharp instrument. If you specifically mean to cut off or to trim something, you may use 잘라내다.
Meaning: to divide with a sharp instrument (verb)
Which one should you use?
While 자르다 is used for the physical act of cutting objects like paper or hair with a tool, you should use 끊다 when you want to express cutting or severing abstract things, such as a phone call, a connection, a continuous line or a relationship. Additionally, the verb 베다 is often used specifically when referring to cutting with a knife or other sharp objects.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
자르다 is an '르' irregular verb. This means that when it is conjugated with endings like –아/어, the '르' changes to 'ㄹㄹ'. For example, the polite/informal present tense is 잘라요 and the polite past tense is 잘랐어요.
How do you pronounce it?
jareuda
Did you know?
- The word 베다 is used for 'cutting' when the action results in a wound, such as cutting one's finger. Using 자르다 in this context would imply you intentionally amputated a piece of your finger.
- While 자르다 describes the act of cutting, the word 잘다 refers to something being 'fine' or 'small'. This suggests a conceptual link between the act of cutting and the resulting small size of the pieces.
- Korean has a specific verb, 잘라내다, which combines 자르다 'to cut' and 내다 'to take out'. This is used specifically when the goal is to remove a part of something, like trimming a hedge or cutting out a coupon.
Examples in context
- 어떻게 머리를 잘라야 할까요?How should I cut my hair?
- 종이를 자르다.jong-ireul jareuda.To cut paper.
- 머리를 자르다.meorireul jareuda.To cut hair.
- 고기를 자르다.gogireul jareuda.To cut meat.
Example conversation
Subin and Hyunwoo are preparing food in the kitchen.
- 수빈 Su-bin현우 씨, 이 당근 좀 자르다.Hyeon-u ssi, i dang-geun jom ja-reu-da.Hyunwoo, please cut these carrots.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo네, 지금 바로 자를게요.ne, ji-geum ba-ro ja-reul-ge-yo.Yes, I will cut them right now.
- 수빈 Su-bin작게 잘라 주세요.jak-ge jal-la ju-se-yo.Please cut them into small pieces.
- 현우 Hyeon-woo알겠어요. 이렇게 하면 될까요?al-get-eo-yo. i-reo-ke ha-myeon doel-kka-yo?Got it. Will this work?
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries 자르다, CC BY-SA 4.0.
