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March 24, 2026
剪jiǎn(jian3)
The character 剪 (jiǎn) primarily means 'to cut' and is often associated with using scissors or shears. It can be used in various contexts, such as trimming hair or paper, and carries the nuance of precision in cutting. Additionally, it can imply more drastic actions like exterminating or wiping out.
Strokes11Radical刀Frequency#2353DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, hair cutting has significant symbolism, often associated with rites of passage or personal transformation. Therefore, the act of 剪 can carry deeper meanings beyond just the physical act of cutting.
Memory Tip
Imagine a giant pair of scissors cutting through a thick rope. The character 剪 looks like a pair of scissors (the left part resembles the blades), and 'jian' sounds like 'jam'—think of jamming the blades together to cut something. Visualize this action to remember both the form and pronunciation.
Meanings of 剪
jiǎn(jian3)
1scissors
2shears
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 剪
剪Simplified
11Strokes
刀Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#2353Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2
Podcast: 剪
Podcast: 剪
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AI Study Notes for 剪
Quick Contrast
剪 (jiǎn) vs 切 (qiē) — use 剪 for cutting with scissors or shears, while 切 refers to slicing or cutting with a knife.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a giant pair of scissors cutting through a thick rope. The character 剪 looks like a pair of scissors (the left part resembles the blades), and 'jian' sounds like 'jam'—think of jamming the blades together to cut something. Visualize this action to remember both the form and pronunciation.
Usage Notes
Learners often confuse 剪 with other cutting verbs like 切 (qiē), which is more general for cutting. It is used in both formal and informal contexts, so you can comfortably use it in everyday conversations. Be mindful of the tone, as mispronouncing it can lead to misunderstandings.
HSK Study Tips
While 剪 is not specifically listed in HSK levels, it is useful for learners to connect it with other cutting-related words like 切 (qiē) and 割 (gē). Focus on practicing its use in sentences related to trimming or cutting tasks to solidify your understanding.
Cultural Note
In Chinese culture, hair cutting has significant symbolism, often associated with rites of passage or personal transformation. Therefore, the act of 剪 can carry deeper meanings beyond just the physical act of cutting.
Common Mistakes
Learners often mix up 剪 with the character 切, mistakenly using 剪 when referring to cutting food. For example, saying '我想剪水果' (wǒ xiǎng jiǎn shuǐguǒ) is incorrect; the correct phrase would be '我想切水果' (wǒ xiǎng qiē shuǐguǒ).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 剪
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Grammar Patterns of 剪
剪 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 8 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The patterns below break down its most common sentence frames, with example sentences and practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) for each one.
是…的 emphasis是 + [V] + 的
HSK 3
This pattern emphasizes the action of cutting, often specifying the object or time.
❝
这是我剪的头发。
Zhè shì wǒ jiǎn de tóufǎ.
This is the hair I cut.
Exercise 1 of 1
Build the Sentence
This is the hair I cut.
Tap tokens to build the sentence
Common Confusions with 剪
剪vs减
jiǎn
Both characters are pronounced the same but have different meanings.
剪 refers to the action of cutting, while 剪刀 specifically means 'scissors'.
1
我需要剪刀来剪纸。
剪 refers to the action of cutting, while 剪刀 specifically means 'scissors'.
💡剪刀 has '刀' indicating a tool, while 剪 alone refers to the action.
Exercise 1 of 1
Spot the Difference
Which character means "scissors"?
or
Usage Notes for 剪
Common Confusion with 剪刀Common Error
Students often confuse 剪 with 剪刀, forgetting that 剪 is the action while 剪刀 is the noun.
1
我用剪刀剪纸。
I use scissors to cut paper.
Exercise 1 of 1
Fill in the Blank
我用____刀剪纸。
I use scissors to cut paper.
Example Sentences for 剪 (10)
Listen to all sentences once to receive XP
1
把你的眉毛修剪成越往外眼角越细的月牙形。
bǎ nǐ de méi máo xiū jiǎn chéng yuè wǎng wài yǎn jiǎo yuè xì de yuè yá xíng。
Taper the shape of your eyebrows towards the outer corners.
My hair is much more manageable since I had it cut short.
8
这些园丁剪刀又轻又好用.
zhè xiē yuán dīng jiǎn dāo yòu qīng yòu hǎo yòng.
These garden shears are lightweight and easy to use.
9
她剪掉了她那齐腰的金发。
tā jiǎn diào le tā nà qí yāo de jīn fā。
She chopped off her golden, waist-length hair.
10
电影的最终版本会剪掉他的声音。
diàn yǐng de zuì zhōng bǎn běn huì jiǎn diào tā de shēng yīn。
His voice will be edited out of the final film.
Cultural Notes for 剪
🏮Cultural insight
In Chinese culture, hair cutting has significant symbolism, often associated with rites of passage or personal transformation. Therefore, the act of 剪 can carry deeper meanings beyond just the physical act of cutting.
Word Family of 剪
Compounds3
谫jian3shallow; stupid
彅
謭
Words Containing This Character20
剪jiǎnscissors
剪刀jiǎndāoscissors
剪辑to edit (video images, film)剪輯
修剪to prune
剪裁to tailor (clothes)
剪子jiǎnziclippers
剪纸to make paper cutouts剪紙
剪切to shear
剪彩jiǎncǎito cut the ribbon (at a launching or opening ceremony)
裁剪to cut out
剪报clippings剪報
剪接montage
剪断to cut剪斷
剪影outline
剪除to eradicate
剪力shear
剪刀差prices scissor (caught between low income and high prices)
剪应力shear stress剪應力
剪枝to prune (branches etc)
剪草机lawnmower剪草機
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 谫 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 剪
剪 specifically refers to cutting with scissors or shears, while 切 is a more general term for cutting.
While 剪 is primarily used for softer materials like paper or hair, it is not suitable for all cutting contexts.
No, 剪 can also be a noun referring to scissors or shears, depending on the context.
