About
The character 裁 is structurally composed of the semantic component 衣, denoting clothing, and the phonetic component 戋, which also carries connotations of cutting or harming, with its earliest usage centered on the concrete act of cutting fabric to tailor garments. From this foundational sense, the meaning expanded metaphorically to encompass the idea of making incisive judgments or decisions, much like the precise cuts made in tailoring, leading to its application in contexts such as legal arbitration or administrative rulings where it implies a definitive assessment or verdict. Additionally, the concept of cutting naturally extended to meanings involving reduction or termination, as seen in terms related to downsizing or editing, illustrating the character's evolution from a specific manual activity to a broad range of abstract applications involving discernment and modification.
Etymology Hide
Example Sentences Hide
妈妈在裁剪布料。
裁判吹响了哨子。
他是专业的裁缝。
公司决定裁员。
我们需要裁减开支。
国际社会实施制裁。
法官作出了公正的裁决。
这篇稿件需要裁断。