剃 (tì) - to shave & to cut hair

剃Tone 4

tì ｜ 9 strokes ｜ radical:

檀婷

剃 · tì

to shave;

to cut hair;

to shave off

to shaveto cut hairto shave off

Usage highlights

to shave the headto shave beardshaverelectric shaverhair clippertonsure

Synonyms

  • 刮— to scrape, shave
  • 修— to trim, groom
  • 削— to pare, cut away

Antonyms

  • 蓄— to grow, keep (hair/beard)
  • 留— to retain, keep

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He shaves his beard every morning (剃胡子).
  • The barber gives haircuts (剃头).
  • I need to shave my head (剃头).
  • Electric shaver (电动剃须刀).

Collocations

  • to shave the head(剃头)
  • to shave beard(剃胡子)
  • shaver(剃刀)
  • electric shaver(电动剃须刀)
  • hair clipper(理发剃刀)
  • tonsure(剃度)

Idioms

  • Shave one's head and become a monk(剃度为僧)
  • Cut the grass and eliminate the roots(剃草除根)
  • Shave eyebrows and pledge(剃眉立誓)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • In Buddhist tradition, head shaving (剃度) symbolizes renunciation of worldly life when becoming a monk or nun.
  • Historically, the Manchu rulers during the Qing dynasty enforced the 'queue order' requiring Han Chinese men to shave the front of their heads and wear the rest in a braid.
  • Head shaving was also used as punishment in some historical contexts.

FAQ