How to Write 剪 (jiǎn) — Meaning “to cut with scissors; scissors”

Imagine you have scissors and need to cut something in front (前) of you using a knife-like blade (刀). Visualizing scissors slicing through paper right in front of your eyes will help you recall 剪.

Write the top part 前 first: start with the two dots, then the horizontal and vertical strokes. Then add the bottom 刀, which is a sharp knife radical; make sure the knife is centered under the top and not too large to keep the character balanced.

The most common word is 剪刀 (jiǎn dāo), meaning scissors, used for cutting paper or fabric. 剪头发 (jiǎn tóu fà) means to cut hair or get a haircut, and 剪纸 (jiǎn zhǐ) refers to the traditional Chinese folk art of paper cutting, popular during festivals.

剪 is used for any cutting action with scissors or shears, such as cutting nails (剪指甲) or fabric. Culturally, 剪纸 (paper cutting) is a UNESCO-recognized intangible heritage, often displayed during Spring Festival to bring good luck.

Common words containing 剪 include: 剪刀 (jiǎn dāo) — scissors; 剪头发 (jiǎn tóu fà) — to cut hair; to get a haircut; 剪纸 (jiǎn zhǐ) — paper cutting (folk art).