裁 cái to trim
to trim; to reduce; to cut; judgment; to cut out
How to remember 裁: 𢦏 wound + 衣 clothes = to trim. The costume maker has a fresh wound on her thumb but still grabs the scissors and the clothes to trim the hem before the show.
Component breakdown
裁 = 𢦏 wound + 衣 clothes
- 𢦏 wound
- 衣 clothes
The costume maker has a fresh wound on her thumb but still grabs the scissors and the clothes to trim the hem before the show.
How it is used
- Two threads: cutting cloth (裁剪) and rendering judgment. 裁判 (cáipàn) is the referee/umpire in sports.
- In business, 裁员 (cáiyuán) means to lay off staff - 公司裁员 (gōngsī cáiyuán) the company cut jobs.
- Legal/formal: 裁决 (cáijué) and 裁定 (cáidìng) are rulings; 仲裁 (zhòngcái) arbitration, 制裁 (zhìcái) sanctions. 总裁 (zǒngcái) = CEO/president.