Chinese Character: 剪
1. Character Basics
Radical: 刀/刀 radical (刀字旁)
Stroke Count: 11
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: jiǎn (third tone)
3. Meaning
cut with scissors, shear, trim, prune
4. Common Words
- 剪刀 (jiǎn dāo) - scissors
- 剪纸 (jiǎn zhǐ) - paper-cutting (art form)
- 剪辑 (jiǎn jí) - editing (video/film)
- 剪裁 (jiǎn cái) - cutting (fabric), tailoring
- 剪发 (jiǎn fà) - haircut
- 修剪 (xiū jiǎn) - trim, prune
5. Grammar & Usage
剪 is a verb that means "to cut with scissors" or "to shear". It is often used in daily activities related to cutting paper, hair, fabric, and other materials.
When used as a verb, 剪 typically follows the structure: Subject + 剪 + Object. For example: "我剪头发" (Wǒ jiǎn tóufa) - "I get a haircut" or "I cut my hair" (literally "I cut hair").
剪 can also be combined with other characters to form compound verbs or nouns, such as 修剪 (xiū jiǎn) meaning "to trim" and 剪刀 (jiǎn dāo) meaning "scissors".
In idiomatic expressions, 剪 often appears in phrases related to cutting or reducing, like 剪不断，理还乱 (jiǎn bù duàn, lǐ hái luàn), which means "cannot cut it off, and when trying to sort it out, it only gets more tangled" - used to describe complicated emotions or situations.
6. Cultural Background
In Chinese culture, 剪纸 (jiǎn zhǐ, paper-cutting) is a traditional folk art with a history of over 1,500 years. It involves cutting paper into various decorative patterns using scissors or knives. These paper-cuts are often used to decorate homes during festivals, especially the Spring Festival (Chinese New Year).
Chinese paper-cutting has been recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO. It is not only a form of decoration but also carries cultural meanings, with common motifs including flowers, animals, and characters that symbolize good luck, happiness, and prosperity.
Traditionally, paper-cutting was a skill that many women mastered, passing it down through generations. Today, it remains a popular art form and cultural activity in China and has gained international recognition.
7. Example Sentence
句子 (jù zi): 妈妈在给我剪头发。
Pronunciation (pīn yīn): Māma zài gěi wǒ jiǎn tóufa.
Translation (fān yì): Mom is cutting my hair.
8. Memory Tips
The character 剪 consists of two parts: 前 (qián, front) and 刀 (dāo, knife). You can remember it by thinking of "using a knife to cut something in front of you".
Another way to remember: 剪 sounds like "jian" and is often associated with scissors (剪刀), which are used to cut paper, hair, and other materials.
The radical 刀 (dāo, knife) on the right side of the character indicates that it is related to cutting or slicing actions.