刃やいば

noun

blade; sword

General term for a blade or sword, often with a dramatic or literary feel. Can refer to the weapon itself or the cutting edge.

• 彼かれは抜ぬき身みの刃やいばを手てにしていた。

  He held a bare blade in his hand.

• その刃やいばは冷つめたく光ひかっていた。

  The blade gleamed coldly.

noun

forged blade; wavy pattern on forged blades

Specifically refers to the blade of a forged Japanese sword, often with attention to the temper line (hamon). Used in sword appreciation contexts.

See also: 刃文 (はもん)

• この刀かたなの刃やいばには美うつくしい刃は文もんが浮うかんでいる。

  A beautiful wavy pattern appears on the blade of this sword.

noun

sharpness (of a blade)

Metaphorical extension from the physical blade to its cutting quality. Often used in expressions like 刃が立たない (cannot make a dent).

• この包ほう丁ちょうは刃やいばがよく切きれる。

  This kitchen knife has a very sharp blade.

• 彼かれの議ぎ論ろんには刃やいばが立たたなかった。

  My arguments couldn't make a dent against his.

noun

unhulled rice

Rare, archaic use. The kanji 刃 is used as a substitute for 籾 (momi) in some old texts.

See also: 籾

• 古ふるい文ぶん献けんでは、刃やいばが籾もみの意い味みで使つかわれることがある。

  In old documents, 刃 is sometimes used to mean unhulled rice.