HSK 7, unknown, 9 strokes, radical 刂, rank #6269, Hard
tì(ti4) T4
1to shave
2to weed
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March 24, 2026
剃(薙)tì(ti4)
The character 剃 (tì) means 'to shave' or 'to weed.' It is commonly used in contexts involving personal grooming, such as shaving facial hair or head hair, as well as in gardening when referring to the removal of unwanted plants. This verb conveys the act of cutting something closely, often to achieve a clean or tidy appearance.
Strokes9Radical刂Frequency#6269DifficultyHard
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, shaving the head was often associated with Buddhist monks, signifying renunciation of worldly ties. Today, shaving styles vary widely, influenced by modern fashion and grooming trends.
Memory Tip
Imagine a barber with a sharp blade in hand, ready to 'tì' (shave) off all the hair. The character 剃 features the radical 刀 (dāo), meaning 'knife,' which directly relates to the action of shaving. Picture the blade cutting through hair, creating a clean surface, helping you remember both the meaning and the sound.
Meanings of 剃
tì(ti4)
1to shave
2to weed
Exercise 1 of 2
Listen & Choose the Meaning
Choose the correct answer:
About 剃
剃Simplified
薙Traditional
9Strokes
刂Radical
动词dòngcíverb (v.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank
HSK 3.0L7AdvancedCEFRC2
Podcast: 剃
Podcast: 剃
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AI Study Notes for 剃
Quick Contrast
剃 (tì) vs 修 (xiū) — use 剃 specifically for shaving or weeding, while 修 refers to trimming or grooming more generally.
Memory Mnemonic
Imagine a barber with a sharp blade in hand, ready to 'tì' (shave) off all the hair. The character 剃 features the radical 刀 (dāo), meaning 'knife,' which directly relates to the action of shaving. Picture the blade cutting through hair, creating a clean surface, helping you remember both the meaning and the sound.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 剃 with related terms like 刮 (guā), which also means 'to shave' but is more commonly used for shaving with a razor. 剃 is more formal and specific to the act of shaving hair rather than other contexts. Ensure you use it in appropriate settings, like discussing grooming or horticulture.
HSK Study Tips
Although 剃 is not an HSK word, it connects with related vocabulary such as 剪 (jiǎn), meaning 'to cut,' and 头发 (tóufǎ), meaning 'hair.' Students at this level should focus on differentiating between similar verbs and understanding their specific contexts.
Cultural Note
In traditional Chinese culture, shaving the head was often associated with Buddhist monks, signifying renunciation of worldly ties. Today, shaving styles vary widely, influenced by modern fashion and grooming trends.
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 剃 with other verbs like 刮 or 剪. For example, saying '我剃我的指甲' (wǒ tì wǒ de zhǐjiǎ) meaning 'I shave my nails' is incorrect; it should be '我剪我的指甲' (wǒ jiǎn wǒ de zhǐjiǎ).
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 剃
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Grammar Patterns of 剃
剃 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 2 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
Exercise 1 of 4
Complete the Sentence
和尚要____度，克利须那派教徒也一样。
Monks shave their heads, as do devotees of the Hare Krishna movement.
Example Sentences for 剃 (9)
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1
和尚要剃度，克利须那派教徒也一样。
hé shàng yào tì dù， ， kè lì xū nà pài jiào tú yě yī。
Monks shave their heads, as do devotees of the Hare Krishna movement.
Apollo, you see, is bestowing the razor on the Triptolemus of our craft.
8
这老人剃掉了他浓而粗的胡子.
zhè lǎo rén tì diào le tā nóng ér cū de hú zǐ.
This old man shaved his shaggy black beard.
9
秃头剃得快.
tū tóu tì dé kuài.
A bald head is soon shaven.
Cultural Notes for 剃
🏮Cultural insight
In traditional Chinese culture, shaving the head was often associated with Buddhist monks, signifying renunciation of worldly ties. Today, shaving styles vary widely, influenced by modern fashion and grooming trends.
Word Family of 剃
Words Containing This Character6
剃tìshave薙
剃刀razor
剃须刀shaver剃鬚刀
剃头to have one's head shaved剃頭
剃度to take the tonsure
剃光头crushing defeat剃光頭
Exercise 1 of 4
Compound Meaning
What does 剃 mean?
Frequently Asked Questions about 剃
剃 is used for shaving hair closely, while 刮 usually refers to the act of scraping or shaving with a razor. Understanding their different contexts is key.
Primarily, 剃 refers to shaving hair. For other uses like weeding, the context will clarify its application.
Yes, but it is more commonly used in formal or specific contexts related to grooming or gardening.
