also: さんとくぼうちょう
noun
santoku knife; all-purpose kitchen knife
A versatile Japanese kitchen knife suitable for cutting meat, fish, and vegetables. The name literally means 'three virtues' or 'three uses'.
三徳包丁は、肉も魚も野菜も切れる万能包丁です。
The santoku knife is an all-purpose knife that can cut meat, fish, and vegetables.
新しい三徳包丁を買ったので、料理が楽しみです。
I bought a new santoku knife, so I'm looking forward to cooking.
The name 三徳 (santoku) means 'three virtues' or 'three uses', referring to its versatility for meat, fish, and vegetables. The reading ほうちょう becomes ぼうちょう due to rendaku (sequential voicing) in compound words.