はさみ（はさみ、hasami）
- scissors

The Japanese word はさみはさみ means "scissors" or "shears". It refers to a tool used for cutting, typically with two blades joined by a pivot. This tool is common in everyday life and is used for a variety of purposes such as cutting paper, fabric, hair, etc.

⚫︎紙をはさみで切ってください。 Translation: Please cut the paper with scissors. ⚫︎髪をはさみで切りました。 Translation: I cut my hair with scissors. ⚫︎そのはさみは切れ味が良いですね。 Translation: Those scissors cut well.

You use はさみはさみ when you want to refer to the tool "scissors". You can use it in various situations when you are talking about cutting something. The context usually makes it clear that you are talking about the tool, so you don't need to specify it further.

⚫︎The word はさみはさみ is primarily written in hiragana. ⚫︎It is possible to use katakana for emphasis, like ハサミ, but it's less common. ⚫︎There is no common Kanji for this word.

There aren't many direct synonyms for "scissors" in Japanese, but depending on the context, you might use more descriptive terms: ⚫︎If referring to a specific type of scissors (like those used for tailoring) you could add a descriptive word to はさみはさみ, like 裁縫はさみ (sewing scissors).

There are no direct antonyms for "scissors".

このはさみは、よく切れますね！ ・Translation: These scissors cut really well! ・Explanation: This sentence praises the quality of the scissors, indicating they are sharp and effective at cutting.

工作にはさみが必要ですか？ ・Translation: Do you need scissors for the craft project? ・Explanation: This sentence asks if scissors are required for a craft project.

The etymology of はさみはさみ is not definitively known, but it is believed to be derived from the verb 挟む（はさむ） which means "to pinch" or "to hold between". This is a descriptive name because scissors work by holding and then cutting with blades that are pinched together.