剪 (jiǎn) - To cut with scissors & to trim

剪Tone 3

jiǎn ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

嘉健

剪 · jiǎn

To cut with scissors;

to trim;

to shear;

to clip;

to eliminate.

To cut with scissorsto trimto shear

Usage highlights

ScissorsTo cutTo trim hairPaper cuttingTo shear sheepTo edit film

Synonyms

  • 切— to cut, to slice
  • 裁— to cut out, to trim
  • 削— to peel, to pare

Antonyms

  • 粘— to stick, to glue
  • 接— to join, to connect

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • She cut the paper with scissors (用剪刀剪纸).
  • The barber trimmed my hair (理发师剪了我的头发).
  • We need to cut the budget (我们需要削减预算).
  • The gardener pruned the branches (园丁剪了树枝).

Collocations

  • Scissors(剪刀)
  • To cut(剪裁)
  • To trim hair(剪发)
  • Paper cutting(剪纸)
  • To shear sheep(剪羊毛)
  • To edit film(剪辑)

Idioms

  • To cut the Gordian knot(快刀斩乱麻)
  • To cut out the weeds and eliminate the roots(剪草除根)
  • To trim the feet to fit the shoes(削足适履)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Chinese paper cutting (剪纸) is a traditional folk art with symbolic meanings, often used in festivals and celebrations.
  • The character appears in terms related to editing and refinement, reflecting precision and control.
  • Scissors are traditional tools in various crafts and daily life, representing skill and dexterity.

FAQ