钳子
qián zi · HSK 7
pliers
🗜️🔧 钳 = metal radical 钅 + grip; 子 = noun suffix — the metal gripping tool
钳 carries the metal radical 钅 and means to clamp or grip; adding the noun suffix 子 names the handheld tool that does the gripping. qián zi sounds a bit like chyen-dzuh.
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.