About
Composed of the metal radical 钅 (金 in traditional 鎩) and the phonetic component 杀, meaning "to kill", this character is inherently linked to weaponry. The radical specifies its metallic composition, while the phonetic element points to its lethal purpose. Originally a noun for a type of long-handled spear used by ancient infantry, it later evolved into a verb meaning to strike down, clip, or disable. This verbal sense is best known through the idiom 描述鸟儿翅膀被剪，比喻遭受惨重失败 or 描绘鸟翼被剪，隐喻遭受沉重挫折, which metaphorically describes a person who has suffered a crushing setback or defeat.
Etymology Hide
