bamboo sword; shinai
Specifically the bamboo practice sword used in kendo. The reading しない is standard; ちくとう is a rare alternative reading.
The player held his shinai in a ready stance and stared at his opponent.
We use bamboo swords in kendo practice.
新しい竹刀を買った。
I bought a new shinai.
Only with reading ちくとう
Rare reading ちくとう for the same object; almost always read しない in modern Japanese. This reading is restricted to the kanji form 竹刀.
「竹刀」を「ちくとう」と読むことはほとんどありません。
The reading ちくとう for 竹刀 is almost never used.
先生は竹刀で面を打つ練習をさせた。
The teacher had us practice striking the head guard with a shinai.
Every morning I practice swinging the shinai a thousand times.
Used because a 竹刀 (shinai) is a long, slender object, the typical shape counted with 本.
Standard kanji spelling for the kendo bamboo sword; reading しない is a special kanji reading (gikun/jukujikun).
The kanji 竹 (bamboo) and 刀 (sword) directly describe the object. The reading しない is a special kanji reading (gikun/jukujikun) whose origin is uncertain; it may be related to the verb 撓う (しなう, 'to bend'), referring to the bamboo's flexibility.