刀 (かたな, katana) Japanese meaning: sword

刀 (かたな, katana) Japanese meaning: sword | Kotomora

Kanji

刀sword, saber, knife

Related words· 10

剣けん sense 1
剣 usually denotes a double-edged sword, while 刀 (かたな) refers to the classic single-edged Japanese blade.
太刀たち sense 1
太刀 is an older, longer style of Japanese sword worn edge-down, whereas 刀 (かたな) is the later, more common style worn edge-up.
日本にほん刀とう sense 1
日本刀 is the formal, specific term for a Japanese sword, while 刀 (かたな) is the everyday word that can also apply more loosely.
鋼はがね
刀 is the ordinary word for a sword, while 鋼 is used poetically or figuratively to mean a sword by referring to its blade material.

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大だい刀とう
刀 is the general everyday word for a Japanese sword of any size, while 大刀 specifically stresses that the blade is long or large.
刀とう剣けん
刀 specifically means a katana or single-edged sword, while 刀剣 is the broader legal/historical term covering all bladed weapons.
ソード
刀 specifically means a Japanese katana, whereas ソード is a broader loanword not tied to any particular culture's sword.
刃はN1
刀 means a sword (especially a katana) as a complete object, whereas 刃 focuses narrowly on its cutting edge or blade.

Don't confuse with

力ちからN4
力 (ちから, meaning 'strength/power') is written almost identically to 刀 (かたな, 'sword') and learners often mix up the two kanji.

Counted with· 5

振ふりN2
For swords and blades (刀一振り).
本ほんN5
For long, thin objects (sticks, stems, wires, bottles); also 'pieces' like films, articles, and phone calls.
腰こし
Used when counting swords as weapons/armaments, e.g. worn at the waist (腰).

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Word family· 22

手て刀がたな
knife hand; hand used like a sword
小こ刀がたな
small knife; pocket knife · short sword; small sword
長なが刀がたな
long sword; long katana
刀かたな鍛冶かじ
swordsmith

Written forms

刀Usage99%
- かたな
  Standard kanji spelling for the Japanese sword sense.
- とう
  Reading used in compound words and technical senses such as scalpel, chisel, and knife money.
カタナUsage1%

Etymology

The kanji 刀 is a pictograph of a knife or sword. The native Japanese reading かたな is of uncertain origin, possibly related to 片 (かた, 'one side') referring to the single-edged blade. The on'yomi とう comes from Middle Chinese.

刀かたな

Meanings

Usage patterns

Expressions