How to Write 裁 (cái) — Meaning “To cut (cloth/paper); to reduce; to judge”

Imagine a tailor (衣) using a pair of scissors (the top part 䒑 looks like scissor blades) to cut fabric. This visual of cutting cloth helps you recall the meaning 'to cut' and the character's shape.

The top part (䒑) has a short left stroke and a slightly longer right stroke, and the 衣 radical below has a narrow left side. A common mistake is making the 衣 too wide or forgetting the small dot inside the bottom of 衣.

裁 has the 衣 radical at the bottom with a cutting top (䒑), while 衮 has a top that looks like a crown and means 'imperial robe'. 衰 has a top that looks like a bundle and means 'decline'. Focus on the top part to distinguish them.

You see 裁 in words like 裁判 (referee or judge) for sports or court, and 裁员 (layoffs) in business news. It often appears in formal contexts involving decisions, reductions, or cutting, reflecting its core meaning of judging or reducing.

Common words containing 裁 include: 裁判 (cái pàn) — Referee; judge; umpire; 裁剪 (cái jiǎn) — To cut out (fabric or patterns); 裁员 (cái yuán) — Layoffs; to reduce staff.