剬 (duān) - To cut & to trim

剬Tone 1

duān ｜ 11 strokes ｜ radical:

丁恩

剬 · duān

To cut;

to trim;

to pare;

to reduce;

to moderate;

to restrain;

ancient term meaning to govern or regulate.

To cutto trimto pare

Usage highlights

Trim branchesReduce taxesRestrain emotionsGovern the stateModerate punishmentCut with knife

Synonyms

  • 削— to pare, to cut
  • 剪— to cut, to trim
  • 裁— to cut, to reduce
  • 制— to control, to restrain

Antonyms

  • 增— to increase
  • 加— to add
  • 扩— to expand

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He trimmed the branches with a knife (用刀剬枝).
  • The government moderated taxes (政府剬税).
  • She restrained her emotions (她剬制情绪).
  • Ancient rulers governed through virtue (古代统治者以德剬).

Collocations

  • Trim branches(剬枝)
  • Reduce taxes(剬税)
  • Restrain emotions(剬情)
  • Govern the state(剬国)
  • Moderate punishment(剬刑)
  • Cut with knife(剬刀)

Idioms

  • To govern through virtue and reduce punishment(以德剬刑)
  • Trim the excessive and moderate the extravagant(剬奢节用)
  • Cut away the complicated and simplify the administration(剬繁就简)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally meant cutting or trimming with a knife, later extended to mean reducing, moderating, or governing.
  • In ancient texts, used to describe the act of governing or regulating through measured actions.
  • Appears in classical Chinese literature with both literal (cutting) and metaphorical (governing) meanings.

FAQ