1.
to say definitively; to declare; to assert
To state something with complete certainty and conviction, leaving no room for doubt or hedging.
彼は「絶対に成功する」と言い切った。
He declared with certainty, "I will definitely succeed."
彼女が犯人だとは言い切れない。
I can't say for certain that she's the culprit.
安全だと言い切ることはできない。
I cannot definitively say that it's safe.
2.
to finish saying; to say completely
To complete what one was saying without being interrupted or stopping midway.
CONJUGATION:
- 言い切る → 言い切らない (negative)
- 言い切る → 言い切って (te-form)
- 言い切る → 言い切った (past)
FORMATION:
Compound verb: 言う (to say) + 切る (completely)
The ～切る pattern indicates doing something completely or with conviction.
COMMON PATTERNS:
- 〜と言い切る - to declare that...
- 言い切れない - cannot say for certain (very common negative form)
COLLOCATIONS:
- 断言して言い切る - to assert categorically
- はっきり言い切る - to state clearly
- 自信を持って言い切る - to state with confidence
USAGE NOTE:
The negative form 「言い切れない」 is especially common for expressing uncertainty or hedging statements.