Kanji

sword, saber, knife

Kanji

Grade

Grade 2

Strokes

2 strokes

Radical

刀部

On'yomi (Chinese Reading)

トウ

Kun'yomi (Japanese Reading)

かたな, そり

Nanori (Name Reading)

かたな, はかし

Common Readings

トウ, かたな

Example sentences

かたな
その侍は鋭い刀を腰に差していた。

That samurai was carrying a sharp sword at his waist.

斬る きる
侍は鋭い刀で敵を斬った。

The samurai cut the enemy with a sharp sword.

刀身 とうしん
その日本刀の刀身は鏡のように輝いている。

The blade of that Japanese sword shines like a mirror.

単刀直入 たんとうちょくにゅう
前置きは抜きにして、単刀直入に本題に入りましょう。

Let's skip the preamble and get straight to the main subject.

太刀 たち
博物館には、平安時代に作られた美しい太刀が展示されている。

A beautiful long sword made in the Heian period is on display in the museum.

太刀打ち たちうち
彼の技術には到底太刀打ちできない。

I can't possibly compete with his skills.

木刀 ぼくとう
少年は道場で木刀を使って素振りをした。

The boy practiced swings with a wooden sword in the training hall.

手刀 てがたな
師範は手刀で厚い板を割った。

The martial arts instructor split a thick board with a knife-hand strike.

短刀 たんとう
彼は懐から短刀を取り出した。

He pulled a short sword from his bosom.

日本刀 にほんとう
博物館で展示されている日本刀の切れ味と美しさに圧倒された。

I was overwhelmed by the sharpness and beauty of the Japanese swords on display at the museum.

Example Vocabulary

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