How to Write 铰 (jiǎo) — Meaning “To cut with scissors”

Imagine a pair of scissors made of metal (钍) that cross (交) to cut paper. The visual of metal blades crossing helps link the shape to the meaning of cutting with scissors.

Write the left side 钍 first with 5 strokes: 撇, 横, 横, 横, 竖提. Then the right side 交 with 6 strokes: 点, 横, 撇, 点, 撇, 捺. A common mistake is making the left side too wide; keep it narrow to balance the right side.

铰 has 交 on the right (meaning to cut), while 钙 has 丐 (a begging bowl) and 钚 has 不 (no). In usage, 铰 is a cutting tool, whereas 钙 and 钚 are chemical elements (calcium and plutonium). Visually, note the different right-side components.

铰 is common in words like 铰链 (hinge) and 铰头发 (to cut hair, especially with scissors). In some dialects, 铰 alone can mean scissors, though standard Chinese uses 剪刀; the character still carries the sense of cutting with metal blades.

Common words containing 铰 include: 铰链 (jiǎo liàn) — Hinge; 铰头发 (jiǎo tóu fà) — To cut hair; 铰刀 (jiǎo dāo) — Reamer; scissors.