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剪子 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
剪子jiǎnziclippersHSK 5, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #11747, Hard
剪子jiǎnziscissorsHSK 5, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #11747, Hard
剪子jiǎnzishearsHSK 5, unknown, 14 strokes, rank #11747, Hard
jiǎnzi(jian3zi5)jian zi T3
  1. 1clippers
  2. 2scissors
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March 24, 2026

剪子jiǎnzi(jian3zi5)

剪子 (jiǎnzi) refers to a tool used for cutting, typically known as scissors. It is commonly used in both household and professional settings for cutting paper, fabric, or hair. The term can also refer to other types of cutting tools, emphasizing its practical utility.

Strokes14Frequency#11747DifficultyHard
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, scissors (剪子) are often associated with craftsmanship and creativity, particularly in traditional arts like paper cutting (剪纸), which is a popular folk art during festivals.

Memory Tip

Think of the character 剪 as a pair of scissors cutting through the air, where the left side resembles the cutting blades and the right side represents the action of cutting. The 'zi' suffix sounds like 'zi' in 'zip,' as if you're zipping through materials with scissors.

Meanings of 剪子

jiǎnzi(jian3zi5)
1clippers
2scissors
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About 剪子

剪子Simplified
14Strokes
—Radical
#—Frequency Rank
把Measure Word
HSK 3.0L5IntermediateHSKKL3CEFRB2

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Podcast: 剪子

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AI Study Notes for 剪子

Quick Contrast

剪刀 (jiǎndāo) - use 剪子 (jiǎnzi) when referring to scissors in a general sense, while 剪刀 (jiǎndāo) is more specific to the tool commonly used for cutting paper or fabric.

Usage Notes

Common mistakes include confusing 剪子 with other cutting tools like 刀 (dāo, knife) or 剪刀 (jiǎndāo, another term for scissors). It is typically informal; in formal contexts, you might specify the type of scissors. Be careful with the tones: 'jiǎn' (剪) uses the third tone, while 'zi' (子) uses the neutral tone.

HSK Study Tips

While 剪子 is not specifically listed in HSK vocabulary, it connects with HSK Level 3 words related to tools or household items. Students should focus on recognizing the character components and using it in practical sentences about everyday activities.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 剪子 with related terms like 剪刀, mistakenly using them interchangeably. For instance, saying '我需要一个剪刀' (I need a 'scissors') instead of '我需要一把剪子'.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 剪子

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Component Characters

剪jiǎnscissors
HSK 511 strokes刀
View full entry
子zison
HSK 33 strokes子
View full entry

How to say clippers in Chinese

“clippers” in Chinese is剪子jiǎnzi

剪子 (jiǎnzi) refers to a tool used for cutting, typically known as scissors. It is commonly used in both household and professional settings for cutting paper, fabric, or hair. The term can also refer to other types of cutting tools, emphasizing its practical utility.

When to use 剪子

Common mistakes include confusing 剪子 with other cutting tools like 刀 (dāo, knife) or 剪刀 (jiǎndāo, another term for scissors). It is typically informal; in formal contexts, you might specify the type of scissors. Be careful with the tones: 'jiǎn' (剪) uses the third tone, while 'zi' (子) uses the neutral tone.

剪子 or something close to it

剪刀 (jiǎndāo) - use 剪子 (jiǎnzi) when referring to scissors in a general sense, while 剪刀 (jiǎndāo) is more specific to the tool commonly used for cutting paper or fabric.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 剪子 with related terms like 剪刀, mistakenly using them interchangeably. For instance, saying '我需要一个剪刀' (I need a 'scissors') instead of '我需要一把剪子'.

Write 剪子

剪
子

Practice writing 剪子 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Frequently Asked Questions about 剪子

剪子 means 'scissors' or 'clippers' and is used for cutting various materials.

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