剃

• Pinyin: tì
• Hanzi breakdown: 剃 = 弟 (younger brother, phonetic) + 刂(knife) — to shave with a blade

Meaning

To shave; to remove hair with a razor or blade.

Specifically refers to shaving with a blade, typically for removing hair from the head or face. Commonly used for shaving beards, cutting hair very short, or Buddhist monk ordination. Different from 刮 which is more general scraping.

Examples

1. 他每天早上起来第一件事就是剃胡子。 The first thing he does every morning when he gets up is shave his beard.
2. 夏天太热了，爷爷索性把头发剃光，凉快又省事。 It's too hot in summer, so grandpa just shaved his head bald — cooler and less hassle.
3. 理发师问我要不要把两边剃短一点，我说行。 The barber asked if I wanted the sides shaved shorter, and I said yes.

Usage Guide

Context: grooming, everyday, barbershop

Tone: neutral

Do Say

• 我得剃剃胡子了。(I need to shave my beard.)
• 给我剃个光头。(Give me a clean shave / shave my head bald.)

Don't Say

• 把脱毛说成'剃' (Don't use 剃 for waxing or laser hair removal — it specifically means blade shaving)

Origin & History

A verb with the knife radical 刂, indicating a cutting action for removing hair.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal