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Kotomora

剪

clip, snip, cut

Strokes11

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

Explore all words using 剪 →

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.