sword, saber, knife

About this kanji

The kanji 「刀」 primarily means "sword," "saber," or "knife." It can be used as both a noun and part of verb forms depending on context. You’ll often see it in compounds such as 剃刀 (かみそり), meaning "razor," and 日本刀 (にほんとう), which refers to a traditional "Japanese sword." Another common compound is 刀剣 (とうけん), meaning "sword" or "sword weapons." A usage note: this kanji is often associated with martial arts and historical contexts, reflecting its importance in Japanese culture. Learning this kanji can enhance your understanding of related vocabulary and deepen your appreciation for swords in Japanese history.

Example sentences

• 彼の刀はとても鋭い。

  His sword is very sharp.

Meanings across languages

English

sword, saber, knife

Tiếng Việt

kiếm, dao, con dao

日本語

刀, サーベル, ナイフ

한국어

칼, 검, 나이프

中文

刀, 剑, 刀具

id

pedang

th

ดาบ

es

espada

fr

épée

de

Schwert

pt

espada

Common compounds

• 剃刀かみそりrazor
• 刀剣とうけんsword, dagger, knife
• 宝刀ほうとうtreasured sword
• 日本刀にほんとうJapanese sword (usu. single-edged and curved), Japanese bladed weapon
• 太刀打ちたちうちcrossing swords, competing against, contending with
• 太刀たちlong sword (as opposed to the shorter katana), tachi, sabre-like sword worn on the hip with the blade facing down
• 竹刀しないbamboo sword (for kendo), bamboo fencing stick, bamboo sword
• 木刀ぼくとうwooden sword

Words using this kanji