About
The character "剪" combines the component "前", which originally functioned as a phonetic indicator, with "刀", a semantic radical explicitly denoting a knife or blade, thereby anchoring the character's meaning in the realm of cutting instruments. Its earliest uses centered on the specific action of cutting with scissors, but over time the meaning broadened to include various forms of shearing and trimming, as well as metaphorical applications such as editing film or curtaining expenditures. The structural composition has remained consistent, with the enduring presence of "刀" continuously reinforcing the tool-based essence of the character, even as the phonetic connection to "前" has become less apparent due to phonological changes. This gradual expansion from a concrete action to encompass both physical and abstract forms of reduction illustrates the adaptive nature of its conceptual foundation.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
请剪这张纸。
他用剪刀剪线。
姐姐喜欢剪窗花。
我昨天剪了短发。
园丁正在剪树枝。
她小心地剪掉多余的线头。
在制作手工艺品时，剪裁布料很重要。
为了保持发型，他每月都要去理发店剪一次头发。