Skip to content
Kotomora

刀

sword, saber, knife

JLPTN1StatusJōyō · grade 2FrequencyTop 2,000Strokes2

Readings

On'yomi

  • トウ

Kun'yomi

  • かたな
  • そり

Nanori

  • き
  • ち
  • と
  • わき

Meaning

刀 centers on a single-edged cutting blade: a sword, saber, or knife. The core idea is a sharp tool or weapon used for cutting.

Most common words using 刀

20 of 175
  • 刀かたな
    N3

    sword (esp. Japanese single-edged); katana

  • 秋刀魚さんま

    Pacific saury (Cololabis saira); mackerel pike

  • 刀剣とうけん

    sword; dagger; knife; bayonet

  • 太刀たち

    long sword (as opposed to the shorter katana)

  • 剃刀かみそり
    N2

    razor

  • 太刀打ちたちうち

    crossing swords

  • 二刀流にとうりゅう

    liking both alcohol and sweets; person who likes both liquor and sweets

  • 抜刀ばっとう

    drawing a sword; drawn sword

  • 短刀たんとう

    short sword; knife; dagger; dirk; tantō

  • 執刀しっとう

    performing a surgical operation

  • 竹刀しない

    bamboo sword (for kendo); bamboo fencing stick

  • 薙刀なぎなた

    naginata; polearm with a curved single-edged blade (similar to a glaive)

  • 木刀ぼくとう

    wooden sword

  • 一刀両断いっとうりょうだん

    cutting in two with a single stroke

  • 妖刀ようとう

    bewitched sword; magical sword; demon sword

  • 助太刀すけだち

    assistance (in a fight); help; aid; backup

  • 刀身とうしん

    knife blade; sword blade

  • 名刀めいとう

    famous sword; excellent sword

  • 宝刀ほうとう

    treasured sword

  • 手刀てがたな

    hand used like a sword in striking

Explore all words using 刀 →

Study

Etymology

刀 is a pictograph of a single-edged blade with a curved back and a handle. The modern two-stroke form preserves the basic blade shape.

Meaning mnemonic

The curved vertical stroke is the blade, and the short horizontal stroke is the handle. Picture a simple knife or sword: 刀.

Reading mnemonic

For トウ, imagine a sword with a toe-shaped guard: toe -> トウ, and the blade extends from it.