打ち切る

うちきる

to stop, to abort, to discontinue, to close

JLPT N1

Character Breakdown

Meaning and Usage

The verb 打ち切る (うちきる) means to stop, discontinue, or abort something that is ongoing. It is often used in formal or business contexts to indicate the termination of meetings, projects, broadcasts, or contracts before their originally planned completion.

Common Contexts

打ち切る is frequently used when something is ended prematurely due to external reasons such as time constraints, budget issues, or sudden decisions. It implies a definitive stop rather than a temporary pause.

Collocations and Patterns

  • 打ち切る + 予定/計画 (plans, schedules): to cancel or stop planned activities
  • 打ち切る + 契約 (contract): to terminate a contract
  • 打ち切る + 放送/番組 (broadcast/program): to cancel a TV or radio program

Register and Nuance

This verb is formal and often appears in written or official spoken Japanese. It is less common in casual conversation. When using 打ち切る, the speaker implies a clear and final decision to end something.

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes confuse 打ち切る with 一時停止 (いちじていし, temporary stop). Remember, 打ち切る means to end completely, not just pause.

Example Sentences

かいぎはじかんのつごうでとちゅうでうちきられた。

The meeting was cut short due to time constraints.

このぷろじぇくとはよさんぶそくのためうちきられた。

This project was discontinued due to lack of budget.

てれびばんぐみのほうそうがきゅうにうちきられた。

The TV program was suddenly canceled.