Details
Description
Sword/Katana - the soul of the samurai, precision and deadly beauty.
Stroke Order
Cultural Context
Etymology
Pictograph of single-edged blade.
Symbolism
Weapon, cutting, craftsmanship. Japanese sword revered as samurai's soul.
Spiritual Meaning
Symbolizes samurais soul, representing spiritual resolve and aesthetic sense through the sword.
Words & Expressions
Words written with 刀
Four-Character Compounds
一刀両断
いっとうりょうだん
cutting in two with a single stroke; taking decisive action; dealing with decisively
快刀乱麻
かいとうらんま
solving a problem swiftly and skillfully
単刀直入
たんとうちょくにゅう
straight to the point; point-blank; frank
帯刀御免
たいとうごめん
a non-samurai being granted the privilege of wearing a sword (during the Edo period)
苗字帯刀
みょうじたいとう
right to bear a surname and to wear a sword (during the Edo period)
諸刃の剣
もろはのつるぎ
Double-edged sword; Something useful but also dangerous
Proverbs & Idioms
刀折れ矢尽きる
かたなおれやつきる
Sword broken, arrows exhausted
Having exhausted all means of fighting
抜かずの刀
ぬかずのかたな
The undrawn sword
Power that is effective without being used
Anime & Manga
刀剣乱舞
Touken Ranbu
Story of personified famous swords called Touken Danshi
鬼滅の刃
Demon Slayer
Slaying demons with special Nichirin swords
るろうに剣心
Rurouni Kenshin
Story of Kenshin with reverse-blade sword. 2023 remake
鬼滅の刃 刀鍛冶の里編
Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Swordsmith Village Arc
A well-known work with 刀 in its Japanese title.
刀語
Katanagatari
A well-known work with 刀 in its Japanese title.
Games
刀剣乱舞無双
Touken Ranbu Warriors(2022)
Musou action game playing as Touken Danshi
View on Amazon →Ghost of Tsushima
Ghost of Tsushima(2020)
Features katana sword combat action
View on Amazon →Related Figures & Stories
正宗
(まさむね)Not in his name — he is the smith himself, founder of the Soshu tradition
Founder of Soshu tradition. His swords remain as national treasures
伊東一刀斎
Name contains 刀
Itō Ittōsai Kagehisa it.toꜜː.sai], c. 1560 – 1653), was a Japanese swordsman, originally named Itō Yagorō.
WikipediaOther kanji with the same meaning
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 刀 mean in Japanese?
刀 means sword, saber, knife. Sword/Katana - the soul of the samurai, precision and deadly beauty.
How do you read 刀?
On'yomi: トウ (TOU). Kun'yomi: かたな、そり (katana, sori).
How many strokes does 刀 have?
刀 has 2 strokes. Its radical is 刀 (knife).
Is 刀 a good kanji for a tattoo?
刀 is one of the kanji most often chosen for tattoos. It means sword, saber, knife. Read the full meaning and cultural background on this page first — some popular choices are deliberately dark.
Explore by meaning:sword