剪
clip, snip, cut
Readings
On'yomi
- セン
Kun'yomi
- き.る
- つ.む
Meaning
剪 centers on cutting with a tool: clipping, snipping, or trimming something away.
Most common words using 剪
- 剪定せんてい
pruning; trimming
- 剪るきる
to cut; to prune; to trim (branches, leaves, flowers, etc.)
- 剪刀せんとう
scissors (esp. surgical scissors)
- 剪定器せんていき
pruner
- 剪定鋏せんていばさみ
pruning shears
- 剪断加工せんだんかこう
shear processing
- 剪断安定性せんだんあんていせい
shear stability
- 剪枝せんし
pruning (trees, shrubs, etc.)
- 剪毛せんもう
wool shearing
- 剪裁せんさい
cutting; trimming; shearing; pruning
- 剪裁機せんさいき
shearing machine
- 剪除せんじょ
cutting off; cut(ting) out
- 引っ張り剪断強度ひっぱりせんだんきょうど
peel strength (e.g. conductor from substrate)
- 枝を剪るえだをきる
to prune a tree
Study
Etymology
剪 combines 前 (before, front) and 刀 (knife), suggesting cutting or trimming with a blade. The 前 component likely contributes a phonetic element as well.
Meaning mnemonic
A knife (刀) placed in front (前) of something is ready to clip, snip, or cut it.
Reading mnemonic
For セン, imagine a pair of scissors snipping a sen (cent) coin in half: sen -> セン, and the knife cuts cleanly.