裁縫
さいほう · saihou · JLPT N2 · noun
sewing
🪡🧵 裁 (cut) + 縫 (sew) = sewing: cut the cloth, then stitch the pieces together
The two kanji are the two core steps of making clothes: 裁 cuts the fabric to pattern, and 縫 joins the pieces with stitches. Together they name the whole craft.
裁 — 戈 (halberd) + 𢦏 (phonetic, to cut)
裁 originally depicted cutting cloth with a blade, combining 衣 (clothing, embedded in the character) with 𢦏 as the phonetic component suggesting cutting. The core meaning 'to cut cloth' extended to tailoring, then broadly to 'judge, decide, reduce' — as in deciding by cutting away. Modern uses include 裁判 (judge) and 裁缝 (tailor).