すっぱり

adverb, onomatopoeia

cleanly; completely; decisively

descriptive

1. cleanly (cutting); in one clean stroke

Describes a clean, decisive cut — like one sword stroke or a single snip — with no jagged edge or hesitation.

紙(かみ)をすっぱりと切(き)る。

To cut the paper cleanly.

枝(えだ)をすっぱり切(き)り落(お)とした。

He lopped the branch off in one clean stroke.

包丁(ほうちょう)は切(き)れ味(あじ)がよく、トマトをすっぱりと二(ふた)つに切(き)れた。

The knife was sharp and cut the tomato cleanly in two.

2. completely (quitting, giving up); cleanly (breaking off)

Figurative extension: making a clean break with a habit, a relationship, or a desire — quitting once and for all, without lingering attachment. The most common modern usage.

タバコをすっぱりやめた。

I quit smoking for good.

彼(かれ)とはすっぱり別(わか)れた。

I made a clean break with him.

過去(かこ)のことはすっぱり忘(わす)れて新(あたら)しい生活(せいかつ)を始(はじ)めよう。

Let's put the past completely behind us and start a new life.

Most often used today with verbs of quitting or breaking off (やめる, 別(わか)れる, 忘(わす)れる) to emphasize a decisive, no-residue break. Frequently appears with と as すっぱりと.

Common collocations

すっぱりやめる: to quit cleanly, for good
すっぱり諦(あきら)める: to give up completely
すっぱり忘(わす)れる: to put completely out of one's mind
すっぱり別(わか)れる: to make a clean break
すっぱり切(き)る: to cut cleanly

Similar words

きっぱり: flatly; firmly — focuses on the decisiveness of refusal or declaration
スパッと: in one clean stroke — very similar; also covers both cutting and quitting
きれいに: cleanly; neatly — broader, also covers tidiness, not just decisiveness

Related Words

Compare: きっぱり (flatly)

Compare: ばっさり (drastically)

general

Added 2026.6.8 13:06 · Revised 2026.9.30 21:23

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