How to Write 刽 (guì) — Meaning “to cut; to execute”

Imagine a 'meeting' (会) where an executioner uses a 'knife' (刂) to cut. The sound 'guì' can remind you of 'guillotine,' which is also a cutting device.

First write the left side 会 with 6 strokes: start with the top 'person' radical, then the middle strokes, and finish with the bottom 'cloud' part. Then add the right side 刂 as a vertical line and a short left hook. Keep the left side wider than the narrow knife radical.

刽 has 会 on the left and means 'execute.' 刎 has 勿 (do not) and means 'cut the throat.' 刑 has 开 (open) and means 'punishment.' Visually, they differ by the left component; 刽 uses the meeting radical, while the others use different elements.

刽 is almost exclusively used in the word 刽子手 (guì zi shǒu), meaning 'executioner.' Historically, executioners were stigmatized, so today the word can also describe a cruel or ruthless person, like a 'butcher.'

Common words containing 刽 include: 刽子手 (guì zi shǒu) — executioner.