JLPT N1 · 2 strokes
Kanji 刀: "sword, saber, knife"
The kanji 刀 means "sword, saber, knife". It is written with 2 strokes and belongs to JLPT level N1, read トウ in on'yomi and かたな, そり in kun'yomi.
Stroke order
Strokes are written in the order of the numbers. The order is not decorative: it is what gives the character its balance, and it is also how handwriting search works in Japanese dictionaries.
Readings
On'yomi (Sino-Japanese reading)
トウ
Kun'yomi (native Japanese reading)
かたなそり
In a kun'yomi reading, the dot separates the kanji from its okurigana: かた.る is read かたる and written 語る. A hyphen marks a bound position, like -び in 日.
At a glance
| Meaning | sword, saber, knife |
|---|---|
| Strokes | 2 |
| JLPT level | N1 |
| Taught in Japan | grade 2 |
| Frequency rank | 1794 of 2,501 |
Common words with 刀
The most frequent words using this kanji, most common first, with furigana readings. Click one to open it in the reader.
- 刀sword (esp. Japanese single-edged); katana · scalpel
- 刀身sword blade; knife blade
- 単刀直入straight to the point; point-blank; frank; direct
- 太刀long sword (as opposed to the shorter katana) · tachi; sabre-like sword worn on the hip with the blade facing down
- 太刀打ちcrossing swords · competing against; contending with; fighting against
- 木刀wooden sword
- 短刀short sword; knife; dagger; dirk
- 手刀hand used like a sword in striking
- 一刀sword; blade · single stroke
- 抜刀drawing a sword; drawn sword
- 日本刀Japanese sword (usu. single-edged and curved); Japanese bladed weapon
- 一刀両断cutting in two with a single stroke · taking decisive action; dealing with decisively; cutting the (Gordian) knot
Keep going
Read real Japanese, not lists
A kanji list does not teach you to read. KanjiYome puts furigana and a dictionary on any Japanese text, offline, and turns the words you meet into review cards.