How to Say "Cut" in Cantonese

剪

zin2

The Cantonese verb for 'cut' is 剪 (zin2).

剪 is used when dividing something with scissors. A common expression is 剪頭髮 (zin2 tau4 faat3), which is the standard way to say 'to get a haircut'.

Meaning: to divide with a sharp instrument (verb)

What does it mean word for word?

The noun for scissors is 剪刀 (zin2 dou1), which literally means 'cut tool'.

While 剪 (zin2) is used for cutting with scissors, the word 切 (cit3) is used for cutting with a knife.

zin2

In some traditional contexts, the act of 剪 (cutting) hair is associated with the 'Hair Cutting Ceremony' for infants, where the first cut symbolizes the transition from infancy.
The word 剪 appears in the term 剪影 (zin2 jing2) for a silhouette, which literally translates to 'cutting the shadow'.
While 剪 is for scissors, the Cantonese word 截 (zit3) is used when 'cutting' a phone call or a connection, reflecting a sudden termination rather than a physical slice.

我去咗髮型屋剪頭髮。
I had my hair cut at the barber's.
This sentence is useful for describing going to a barber to use 剪.
Tatoeba #458768 by nickyeow, translation #257885 by CK
我尋日去咗髮型屋剪頭髮。
I had my hair cut at the barber shop yesterday.
Tatoeba #599677 by nickyeow, translation #244617 by CK
我唔係叫咗你去剪頭髮嘅咩？
I thought I told you to cut your hair.
This sentence is useful for using 剪 when telling someone to cut their hair.
Tatoeba #2093584 by nickyeow, translation #1961274 by CK
我要剪頭髮 (ngo5 jiu3 gím tau4 faat3)
I want to cut my hair.
攞啲紙條俾我剪 (lo2 di1 zi2 tiu1 bei2 ngo5 gím)
Give me the piece of paper to cut.
6 more sentences on Tatoeba

Two people are preparing paper for a craft project.

子健 Tsz Kin

曉彤，你可以幫我剪呢張紙嗎？
hiu tung, nei ho yi bong ngo zin ni zoeng zi ma?
曉彤, can you help me cut this piece of paper?
曉彤 Hiu Tung

冇問題，你要剪成咩形狀？
mou man tai, nei yiu zin sing me jing zong?
No problem, what shape do you want it cut into?
子健 Tsz Kin

請幫我剪一個圓形。
cing bong ngo zin jat go jyun jing.
Please cut a circle for me.
曉彤 Hiu Tung

好，我而家就剪。
hou, ngo ji gaa zau zin.
Okay, I will cut it right now.

Sources

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