1.
to cut (hair, grass)
To shorten by cutting.
髪を刈る。
To cut one's hair.
草を刈る。
To cut grass.
息子の髪を短く刈った。
I cut my son's hair short.
2.
to mow, to harvest
To cut crops or grass from a field.
芝生を刈る。
To mow the lawn.
稲を刈る。
To harvest rice.
秋になると農家は稲を刈る。
When autumn comes, farmers harvest rice.
刈る is a godan verb meaning to cut short (hair, grass) or to harvest (crops). It implies cutting at the base or close to the surface.
TRANSITIVITY:
- Type: 他動詞 (transitive)
- Pattern: 〜を刈る
SENSE 1 - TO CUT (hair/grass):
- 髪を刈る: to cut hair (short/buzz cut)
- 芝/芝生を刈る: to mow the lawn
- 草を刈る: to cut grass
SENSE 2 - TO HARVEST:
- 稲を刈る: to harvest rice
- 麦を刈る: to harvest wheat
HOMOPHONES (different kanji):
- 刈る: to cut, mow, harvest
- 借りる: to borrow (ichidan verb)
- 狩る: to hunt
- 駆る: to drive, impel
RELATED:
- 刈り込む: to trim, prune
- 刈り取る: to mow, reap