踏み切る
ふみきる
verb (godan る)
to take the plunge, to make a decision
Conjugation
| Affirmative | Negative | |
|---|---|---|
| Present | 踏み切る | 踏み切らない |
| Present polite | 踏み切ります | 踏み切りません |
| Past | 踏み切った | 踏み切らなかった |
| Past polite | 踏み切りました | 踏み切りませんでした |
| て form | 踏み切って | 踏み切らなくて |
| ている present | 踏み切っている | 踏み切っていない |
| ている polite | 踏み切っています | 踏み切っていません |
| ている past | 踏み切っていた | 踏み切っていなかった |
| ている past polite | 踏み切っていました | 踏み切っていませんでした |
| Conditional ば | 踏み切れば | 踏み切らなければ |
| Conditional たら | 踏み切ったら | 踏み切らなかったら |
| Volitional | 踏み切ろう | — |
| Volitional polite | 踏み切りましょう | — |
| Potential | 踏み切れる | 踏み切れない |
| Passive | 踏み切られる | 踏み切られない |
| Causative | 踏み切らせる | 踏み切らせない |
| Imperative | 踏み切れ | 踏み切るな |
1.
to take the plunge, to make a decisive move
To make a firm decision to do something significant, especially after hesitation.
ついに転職に踏み切った。
I finally took the plunge and changed jobs.
起業に踏み切るには勇気がいる。
It takes courage to take the plunge into starting a business.
長年悩んだ末、海外移住に踏み切ることにした。
After years of deliberation, I decided to take the plunge and move abroad.
2.
to take off, to jump
To push off the ground with one's foot to jump or leap, as in athletics.
左足で踏み切って跳んだ。
I pushed off with my left foot and jumped.
選手は力強く踏み切って跳んだ。
The athlete pushed off powerfully and jumped.
踏み切る位置がずれて、ファウルになってしまった。
The takeoff position was off, and it ended up being a foul.
USAGE: 踏み切る is a compound verb combining 踏む (to step on) and 切る (to cut, completion). The figurative sense (sense 1) of making a decisive commitment is more common in everyday use.
TRANSITIVITY: Intransitive (自動詞). Takes に for the action one decides to take.
ASPECT: 踏み切った emphasizes completion of the decision. 踏み切れない indicates inability to make the decision.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 決断に踏み切る (to make a firm decision)
- 購入に踏み切る (to take the plunge to purchase)
- 独立に踏み切る (to decide to become independent)
RELATED: 踏切 (railroad crossing) uses the same kanji but is a different word.
NOTE: Often used with ついに or 思い切って to emphasize the decisiveness.