Definitions

niè (bound form) tweezers; to use tweezers (to grasp, pick up, or pull out etc, depending on whether the following resultative verb is 住[zhù] or 起[qǐ] or 出[chū] etc)

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. represents the meaning and represents the sound. Simplified form of .

Semantic: Phonetic:

About

The character 镊 (traditional: 鑷) is a phono-semantic compound. Its left-side radical 钅 (simplified from 釒) indicates the object is made of metal, classifying it as a tool. The right component 聂 (traditional: 聶) provides the phonetic element "niè" and originally depicted three ears, suggesting whispering. This character primarily means a pair of tweezers or small pincers used for plucking hair or handling small objects precisely. It connects the tool's metallic structure with its pinching function, serving as a concrete term for this grooming or mechanical instrument without abstract connotations.