Usage patterns 太た 刀ち を 抜ぬ く to draw a tachi (sword)
The samurai drew his tachi and took a stance.
太た 刀ち を 振ふ る to swing a tachi (sword)
He swung his tachi and cut down the enemy.
太た 刀ち を 帯お びる to wear a tachi at one's hip
This warlord always wore a tachi at his hip.
Expressions 太た 刀ち 打う ちできる be a match for; hold one's own against; compete with Kanji 太 plump, thick, big around 横 sideways, side, horizontal Related words 刀 is the common word for a (usually shorter) Japanese sword worn edge-up, while 太刀 refers to the older, longer type worn edge-down.
剣 is a general, often double-edged sword (including foreign ones), whereas 太刀 specifically denotes a traditional Japanese long, curved sword.
太刀 refers to an older style of longer, more curved Japanese sword worn edge-down, whereas 日本刀 is the broad modern term covering all traditionally made Japanese swords.
Don't confuse with 打刀 is the later style of sword worn thrust through the sash with the edge up, unlike 太刀 which is suspended from the hip with the edge down.
タチ (the LGBTQ+ slang for 'top') and 太刀 (a long Japanese sword) are pronounced identically but have completely unrelated meanings.
太刀 and 大刀 look alike because 太 and 大 are easily confused kanji, but 太刀 names an older style of long sword worn slung from the belt, while 大刀 is a broader term for any large sword including later katana.
Counted with For swords and blades (刀一振り ).
Archaic counter for swords worn at the waist.
Archaic counter for things worn at the waist — swords, hakama.
Word family· 21 crossing swords; sword fight · competing against; contending with; fighting against
assistance in a fight; backup · helper in a fight; supporter
largehead hairtail; scabbard fish; beltfish
short sword; small sword
stroke of a sword; single sword cut
Show 9 more Show fewer extra-long sword; great sword
point of a sword; forceful debate
swordsmanship; sword technique; way of the sword
long sword cloth bag; bag for long swords
sound of a sword cutting or clashing
wooden sword
extra-long sword; field sword
ancient longsword
ornamental sword; ceremonial sword
See all 21 in Explore →
Written forms 太刀たち Usage 76%
Standard kanji form; high priority in news and frequency lists.
大刀たち Usage 21%
Alternate kanji form; less common than 太刀 .
たち Usage 2%
横た 刀ち Usage <1%
rarely-used kanji form
Rarely used kanji form.
Etymology The reading たち is native Japanese. The kanji 太刀 literally means 'thick sword', referring to its larger size compared to a katana.
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