Key Facts
- Hangul: 가위; Revised Romanization: gawi
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: native Korean, no hanja
- Register: Neutral everyday word.
Scissors in Korean: What Does 가위 Mean?
가위 names the two-bladed tool for cutting paper, cloth, thread or food. Because it is the tool itself, Korean treats it as the means of an action, so it appears with a particle that means "with". It is a plain word with no polite or casual twin, so you can say it to anyone. The same word is one of three hand signs in 가위바위보, which is why children know it long before they handle real scissors.
How Do You Pronounce 가위?
Two syllables: ga-wi. The second syllable starts with a w glide, so the lips round for a moment and then spread into i, all in one smooth beat. Do not split it into three parts. Both syllables get equal weight. The ㄱ at the start is light and unaspirated, somewhere between an English k and g.
Example Sentences with 가위
가위로 종이를 잘라요.
Gawiro jongireul jallayo.
I cut paper with scissors.
The particle 로 after 가위 marks the tool: you cut paper by means of scissors. The verb 잘라요 comes last.
가위 있어요?
Gawi isseoyo?
Do you have scissors?
A short question to borrow a pair. 있어요 literally asks whether something exists, and with a rising tone it works as "Do you have one?".
이 가위는 잘 안 들어요.
I gawineun jal an deureoyo.
These scissors do not cut well.
A complaint about a blunt pair. 잘 안 들어요 is the stock phrase for a blade that will not bite, and 이 가위는 points at the pair in your hand.
Phrases and Collocations with 가위
Most partners show scissors as the instrument of an action. The suffix in 가위질 turns the tool into the act of cutting, and 가위바위보 borrows the word for a game.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 가위로 자르다 | to cut with scissors |
| 가위질 | scissor cutting |
| 가위바위보 | rock-paper-scissors |
| 가위를 쓰다 | to use scissors |
The Mistake to Avoid
Wrong: ✗ 가위를 자르다
Correct: ✓ 가위로 자르다
Why: Scissors are the tool, not the thing being cut. 로 marks the instrument, so 가위로 means "with scissors". With 를 the sentence says the scissors themselves are being cut.
가위 Compared with Similar Words
Two nearby words help you place 가위. One is another cutting tool, and the other uses the same sound for a different purpose.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 칼 | knife | A single blade; 가위 has two blades that work together. |
| 가위바위보 | rock-paper-scissors | The hand game in which 가위 is one of three signs. |
Where Does 가위 Come From?
가위 is a native Korean word and has no hanja behind it, so you learn it as a whole. Sino-Korean words break into meaningful syllables, but 가위 does not.
Asking for Scissors at a Restaurant
A diner wants to cut long noodles. The server brings scissors for the table.
Diner
가위 좀 주세요.
Gawi jom juseyo.
Could I have some scissors, please?
Server
네. 여기 있어요.
Ne. Yeogi isseoyo.
Yes. Here you are.
Diner
감사합니다. 냉면을 자르려고요.
Gamsahamnida. Naengmyeoneul jareuryeogoyo.
Thank you. I’m going to cut the cold noodles.
좀 literally means “a little”, but in this request it softens the wording. The diner is not asking for a small amount of scissors. 가위 좀 주세요 is useful when the object you need is clear from the situation.
자르려고요 gives the intended action: “I’m going to cut them”. The object 냉면 tells the server why scissors are useful here. Korean food scissors can be used at the table, so a request for 가위 need not involve paper or craft work.
One Pair, Several Pairs, and Different Uses
가위 does not have the English plural shape of “scissors”. It can name one pair without adding a plural marker. 가위 한 개 means one pair of scissors, and 가위 두 개 means two pairs. The counting unit 개 counts each complete tool, not each blade.
주방 가위 means “kitchen scissors”. 문구용 가위 means scissors for stationery or craft use, and 미용 가위 means scissors used for hair or beauty work. The extra word specifies the intended use. A shop label may tell you which kind you are looking at even when every product in view is 가위.
What Does 잘 들다 Mean for Scissors?
With a blade, 잘 들다 means “cut well” or “be sharp enough to work well”. This is the sense behind the existing example 이 가위는 잘 안 들어요. Translating 들다 as “enter” would miss the point: the speaker is describing how the scissors perform.
가위질 means cutting with scissors, naming the activity rather than the tool. The ending 질 appears in words for actions done with a tool or body part. Here it lets you refer to the cutting itself, such as the task of cutting out paper shapes.
In 가위바위보, the three parts are scissors, rock and paper in that order. The scissors sign uses two extended fingers. When the word appears during the game, it names a hand sign; nobody needs to bring an actual pair of scissors.
Words for Using Scissors
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 자르다 | to cut | Names the action; 가위로 specifies the tool. |
| 종이 | paper | The object being cut in the first example. |
| 칼 | knife | Another cutting tool, used with 로 as well. |
| 풀 | glue | A neighboring item in a paper-craft task. |
The everyday objects lesson groups household tools and supplies. Keep the tool and material separate when building a sentence: 가위로 gives the means, and 종이를 gives what you cut.
Quick Self-Test
- In 가위 좀 주세요, does 좀 ask for a small piece of scissors?
- How many complete tools does 가위 두 개 name?
- What is the problem if 가위가 잘 안 들어요?
Show answers
- No. It softens the request.
- Two pairs of scissors.
- The scissors do not cut well.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say scissors in Korean?
Say 가위 (gawi). It is a neutral noun, so it suits every situation.
Which particle goes with 가위 when you cut something?
Use 로, as in 가위로 종이를 잘라요. It marks the scissors as the tool.
What does 가위 mean in 가위바위보?
It is the scissors sign in rock-paper-scissors. Koreans often use the game to decide who goes first.
How is 가위 different from 칼?
가위 has two blades that meet to cut, while 칼 is a knife with a single blade.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Theme list: everyday objects vocabulary puts the word beside other things around the house.
- Index: Korean words A to Z.
- Practice: add it to the vocabulary flashcard decks.
- Contrast: the page for knife covers the single-blade tool.