剪子

• Pinyin: jiǎn zi
• Hanzi breakdown: 剪 = 前 (front) + 刀 (knife), meaning to cut; 子 = colloquial noun suffix

Meaning

Scissors. A colloquial term for scissors.

Colloquial alternative to 剪刀, more common in northern China and casual speech. Functionally identical to 剪刀. The 子 suffix makes it sound more colloquial and everyday.

Examples

1. 把剪子拿来，我要剪开这个快递包裹。 Bring the scissors here; I need to cut open this delivery package.
2. 这把剪子钝了，剪纸都费劲。 These scissors are dull; it's even hard to cut paper.
3. 奶奶的针线盒里总是放着一把小剪子。 Grandma's sewing box always has a small pair of scissors in it.

Usage Guide

Context: household, daily speech, northern dialect

Tone: casual

Do Say

• 剪子在哪儿？(Where are the scissors?)
• 这把剪子真好用。(These scissors are really handy.)

Don't Say

• 请给我一个剪子 (Use 把 as the measure word — 一把剪子)

Origin & History

Variant of 剪刀 with the colloquial suffix 子, common in northern Chinese dialects.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal