刀: the kanji for sword; knife
刀 is a JLPT N1 kanji that means sword; knife. Below are its readings, 6 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
刀 is written in 2 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
刀 has 2 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 4 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
トウ (tou)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 日本刀にほんとう · nihontō | Japanese sword |
| 短刀たんとう · tantō | dagger |
| 名刀めいとう · meitō | famous sword … |
かたな (katana)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 刀かたな · katana | sword |
Special readings to learn as whole words
These words use 刀, but their readings do not follow the readings above. The Jōyō Kanji Table lists them as special readings. Learn each one as a whole word.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 太刀たち · tachi | long sword |
| 竹刀しない · shinai | bamboo sword |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 武士は腰に刀を差していた。Bushi wa koshi ni katana o sashite ita.Samurai wore swords at their waists.
- 剣道では竹刀を使う。Kendō de wa shinai o tsukau.Bamboo swords are used in kendo.
- 美術館で日本刀の展示を見た。Bijutsukan de nihontō no tenji o mita.I saw an exhibition of Japanese swords at the art museum.
- 昔の武将は太刀を持って戦った。Mukashi no bushō wa tachi o motte tatakatta.Military commanders long ago fought with long swords.
- …この寺には名刀が伝わっている。Kono tera ni wa meitō ga tsutawatte iru.A famous sword has been handed down at this temple.
Questions about 刀
How many strokes does 刀 have?
刀 is written in 2 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 刀?
The on readings are tou (トウ). The kun readings are katana (かたな).
What JLPT level is 刀?
N1. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so this level is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used through 2009.
About the JLPT level
The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. The level on this page is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009. The JLPT states that the current N1 is designed to match the former Level 1.
More JLPT N1 kanji
Government, rules and society
Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.
Sources
- Jōyō Kanji Table (常用漢字表), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, 2010: readings and special readings of 刀
- JLPT Frequently Asked Questions, The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services: how current levels match the former levels
- Stroke order diagrams are based on KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The diagrams on this page are shared under the same license.