Usage note
切的意思是用刀把东西分成小块。
Qiē de yìsi shì yòng dāo bǎ dōngxi fēn chéng xiǎo kuài.
To cut means to use a knife to divide something into small pieces.
Context note
切水果、切蛋糕时要用安全的刀，小心手。
Qiē shuǐguǒ, qiē dàngāo shí yào yòng ānquán de dāo, xiǎoxīn shǒu.
When cutting fruit or cake, use a safe knife and be careful with your hands.
5 examples
妈妈切苹果给我吃。
mā ma qiè píng guǒ gěi wǒ chī。
Mom cuts an apple for me to eat.
请帮我切蛋糕。
qǐng bāng wǒ qiè dàn gāo。
Please help me cut the cake.
他用小刀切纸。
tā yòng xiǎo dāo qiè zhǐ。
He cuts paper with a small knife.
我们切西瓜吃。
wǒ men qiè xī guā chī。
We cut the watermelon to eat.
厨师切菜很快。
chú shī qiè cài hěn kuài。
The chef cuts vegetables very fast.
5 mini stories
小明帮妈妈切香蕉。他切得很小心。
xiǎo míng bāng mā ma qiè xiāng jiāo。 tā qiè dé hěn xiǎo xīn。
Xiao Ming helps mom cut bananas. He cuts very carefully.
小红切生日蛋糕。她分给每个朋友一块。
xiǎo hóng qiè shēng rì dàn gāo。 tā fēn gěi měi gè péng yǒu yí kuài。
Xiao Hong cuts the birthday cake. She gives each friend a piece.
小华切胡萝卜做沙拉。兔子也来帮忙。
xiǎo huá qiè hú luó bo zuò shā lā。 tù zi yě lái bāng máng。
Xiao Hua cuts carrots to make salad. The rabbit also comes to help.
小丽切彩纸做手工。她做了一朵花。
xiǎo lì qiè cǎi zhǐ zuò shǒu gōng。 tā zuò le yì duǒ huā。
Xiao Li cuts colored paper for crafts. She makes a flower.
小刚切面包做三明治。他加了果酱。
xiǎo gāng qiē miàn bāo zuò sān míng zhì。 tā jiā le guǒ jiàng。
Xiao Gang cuts bread to make a sandwich. He adds jam.
Mini dialogue
切水果
A
妈妈，我可以帮你切苹果吗？
Māma, wǒ kěyǐ bāng nǐ qiē píngguǒ ma?
Mom, can I help you cut the apple?
B
好的，小心切，别切到手。
Hǎo de, xiǎoxīn qiē, bié qiē dào shǒu.
Okay, cut carefully, don't cut your hand.
切蛋糕
A
生日蛋糕真漂亮！谁来切？
Shēngrì dàngāo zhēn piàoliang! Shéi lái qiē?
The birthday cake is so beautiful! Who will cut it?
B
我来切吧，每人一块。
Wǒ lái qiē ba, měi rén yī kuài.
Let me cut it, one piece for everyone.
Related words and contrasts
similar
剪
jiǎn
cut with scissors
切 is cutting with a knife, 剪 is cutting with scissors.
similar
割
gē
cut; mow
割 often implies cutting with a back-and-forth motion, like cutting grass.