Mandarin Chinese reference
剪
jiǎn
to cut with scissors; to trim
Verb pattern · 10 form tables
Mandarin verbs do not change for tense. These tables show aspect, negation, questions and sentence patterns. Short phrases omit the subject; full examples retain theirs.
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Aspect
Plain statement
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | jiǎncut with scissors |
Completed action
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | jiǎn lecut with scissors |
Experience
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | jiǎn guohave cut with scissors before |
In progress
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | zài jiǎnbe cutting with scissors |
Future
About to
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | yào jiǎn lebe about to cut with scissors |
Will / can
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | huì jiǎnwill cut with scissors |
Negative
Not
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | bù jiǎndo not cut with scissors |
Did not
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | méi jiǎndid not cut with scissors |
Questions
Yes no question
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | jiǎn ma?do you cut with scissors? |
A not A question
| Person, form or usage | Form and meaning |
|---|---|
| verb phrase (subject omitted) | jiǎn bu jiǎn?do you cut with scissors? |
Forms from the Loquus reference. Only supplied forms are shown. Browse all Mandarin Chinese entries.