to pare, to scrape, to trim

JLPT N1 9 strokes

Words with this Kanji

Meaning and Usage

The character primarily means "to peel," "to shave off," or "to reduce." It is often used when talking about physically removing a thin layer from something, such as peeling fruit or carving wood. It also frequently appears in contexts involving reduction, such as cutting costs or trimming budgets.

Common Collocations

  • (xiāo pí): to peel the skin (of fruit or vegetables)
  • 削减 (xiāojiǎn): to reduce, to cut down (expenses, resources)
  • 削弱 (xiāoruò): to weaken, to undermine

Usage Notes

When used for physical actions, implies a careful or precise removal, often with a knife or similar tool. In financial or abstract contexts, it conveys the idea of cutting down or trimming something to a smaller size or amount. It is more formal and specific than general verbs like (cut) or (reduce).

Common Confusions

Do not confuse with (gē), which also means "to cut" but often implies cutting through something completely or dividing it. focuses on shaving or peeling layers off rather than slicing through.

Summary

Use when you want to express peeling, shaving, or reducing something carefully or gradually, whether physically or metaphorically.

Example Sentences

He peels the apple skin with a knife.

The company decided to cut expenses to cope with the economic crisis.

He carved the wood into a beautiful sculpture.