剪子
jiǎn zi · HSK 5
scissors
✂️ 剪 = cut/snip + 子 = noun suffix; the snipping tool
剪 means to cut or shear (think 剪刀 jiǎndāo, also scissors). 子 is a common noun suffix turning a verb root into the everyday object that performs it, so 剪子 literally means the snip-thing.
剪 — 前 (qián, phonetic) + 刀 (knife)
剪 is a semantic-phonetic compound. The bottom 刀 (knife) gives the meaning—cutting or shearing—while 前 above supplies the sound 'jian'. Originally 前 itself meant 'to cut' (showing a boat/foot being trimmed), but as 前 shifted to mean 'front', the knife radical 刀 was added to preserve the cutting sense.
子 — pictograph of a baby/child with arms out
子 began as a pictograph of a swaddled infant with a large head and outstretched arms, originally meaning 'baby' or 'child.' From there it broadened to 'son,' 'offspring,' and a respectful suffix for masters like 孔子 (Confucius). It also became one of the twelve earthly branches.