剪 (jiǎn) — to cut with scissors; to trim
Definition
剪 (jiǎn) means to cut or trim with scissors, typically hair, nails, or paper. Unlike 裁 (for fabric) or 剪辑 (editing footage), it implies using scissors on everyday items.
verb
to cut with scissorsto trim
Measure word · 把
Examples
- 剪。Wǒ měi tiān yòng zhè bǎ jiǎn dāo jiǎn dōng xī.I use this pair of scissors to cut things every day.
- 剪。Nǎi nai bǎ jiù bào zhǐ jiǎn chéng le xiǎo tiáo.Grandma cut old newspapers into small strips.
- 剪。Nǐ jiǎn zhǐ jia de shí hou xiǎo xīn yì diǎn r.Be careful when you cut your nails.
Origin
Sound + meaning六书liùshū
形声xíngshēngMost characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.
Sound part声符shēngfú
歬
歬qián剪jiǎn
Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.
In 剪, 刀 is the knife part and 歬 gives the sound. After 前 came to replace 歬, another 刀 was added to 剪.
Appears in
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