単たん刀とう

noun

single sword; one sword

Refers to having or using only one sword, often in contrast to dual-wielding. Can appear in historical or martial contexts.

• 彼かれは単たん刀とうで敵てきに立たち向むかった。

  He faced the enemy with only one sword.

noun

wielding a single sword; direct and to the point

The second meaning is almost exclusively used in the set phrase 単刀直入 (たんとうちょくにゅう), meaning 'cutting straight to the point'. The standalone use of 単刀 for 'being straightforward' is rare and mostly literary or idiomatic.

See also: 単刀直入

• 「単たん刀とう直ちょく入にゅう」という四よ字じ熟じゅく語ごは、前まえ置おきなしに本ほん題だいに入はいることを意い味みする。

  The four-character idiom 単刀直入 means getting straight to the point without preamble.