裁 (cái) - To cut & to trim

裁Tone 2

cái ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

偲嫦

裁 · cái

To cut;

to trim;

to reduce;

to judge;

to decide;

to dismiss (from employment);

to design;

to tailor.

To cutto trimto reduce

Usage highlights

Cut staffJudge and decideCut and reduceTailor clothingMake a rulingCut paper

Synonyms

  • 剪— to cut with scissors
  • 判— to judge, to decide
  • 削— to cut, to reduce

Antonyms

  • 增— to increase
  • 雇— to hire

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The company had to cut staff (裁员).
  • She designs clothing (裁制衣服).
  • The judge will make a ruling (裁判).
  • We need to reduce expenses (裁减开支).

Collocations

  • Cut staff(裁员)
  • Judge and decide(裁判)
  • Cut and reduce(裁减)
  • Tailor clothing(裁衣)
  • Make a ruling(裁决)
  • Cut paper(裁纸)

Idioms

  • Unique style(别出心裁)
  • Judge oneself by the same standard(独裁)
  • Cut according to the material(量体裁衣)
  • Make arbitrary decisions(独裁专断)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Originally depicted cutting cloth with a knife, later extended to decision-making and judgment.
  • In imperial China, officials who '裁断' cases held significant judicial power.
  • The character embodies the concept of measured judgment and appropriate reduction.

FAQ