薙 (tì) - To weed & to shave

薙Tone 4

tì ｜ 16 strokes ｜ radical:

檀婷

薙 · tì

To weed;

to shave;

to clear vegetation.

Also used in historical terms for shaving heads (as in tonsure).

To weedto shaveto clear vegetation. Also used in historical terms

Usage highlights

WeedingShaving hairTonsure decreeWeeding knifeShaving head and becoming monkClearing weeds

Synonyms

  • 剃— to shave (more common for shaving)
  • 除— to remove, eliminate
  • 刈— to cut, mow (for grass/plants)

Antonyms

  • 植— to plant (opposite of weeding)
  • 留— to keep, retain (opposite of shaving/removing)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • Weeding the garden(薙草)
  • Shaving the head(薙发)
  • Cutting grass with a sickle(薙草)
  • The Tonsure Decree in Qing dynasty(薙发令)

Collocations

  • Weeding(薙草)
  • Shaving hair(薙发)
  • Tonsure decree(薙发令)
  • Weeding knife(薙刀)
  • Shaving head and becoming monk(薙度)
  • Clearing weeds(薙除)

Idioms

  • The Tonsure Decree: Keep your hair, lose your head; keep your head, lose your hair(留发不留头，留头不留发)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Historically associated with the Qing dynasty's 'Tonsure Decree' (薙发令) which forced Han Chinese men to adopt the Manchu hairstyle.
  • Used in Buddhist context for head shaving during ordination (薙度).
  • In Japanese, 薙刀 (naginata) refers to a pole weapon, showing the character's association with cutting/clearing actions.

FAQ