N3183/219

切る

V-ます-stem + 切るV-る + 切る (e.g., 食べ切る, 読み切る)Noun + 切る (less common; used in 固定表現)

Meanings

finish completely
do something to the end
see through to the end
finish off thoroughly

About this pattern

Explanation

切る is used to express doing something to its completion, persistence, or to the very end. It emphasizes finishing thoroughly or definitively, often after effort or challenge. The most common construction is to attach 切る to the stem of a verb (the ます-stem) to form verbs like 食べ切る, 読み切る, and やり切る. This conveys a sense of not stopping short, completing the action completely. It can carry a positive nuance, showing determination or perseverance, but it can also be used neutrally for factual completion.

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Example sentences

彼は難しい課題を最後までやり切った。

He finished the difficult assignment until the end.

このスープを全部食べ切ってください。

Please eat all of this soup.

彼女はその本を一日で読み切った。

She finished reading the book in one day.

疲れていても、彼は最後まで走り切った。

Even though he was tired, he ran to the very end.

Related patterns

It would be good if you do X; You should do X; It's enough to do X

たらいい・といい

It would be nice if ...; It would be good if ...; Should ...; I hope ...

during; while; throughout; in the process of

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More N3 patterns

It would be good if you do X; You should do X; It's enough to do X

たらいい・といい

It would be nice if ...; It would be good if ...; Should ...; I hope ...

during; while; throughout; in the process of

while; during; between; in the period of

During the period of / while; Before something changes or happens; Within the time when ... happens

ないうちに

before it happens; before doing something becomes true; before it ends/advances; before it’s no longer possible; while still in the state of not ...