刀 dāo
noun | measure word | radical 18
: knife; blade; single-edged sword
: cutlass
: measure word for sets of one hundred sheets (of paper)
: (slang) dollar (loanword)
Kun Reading
刀 | かたな katana
ichidan verb | transitive verb
: (single-edged) sword; katana
: (Archaism) dagger; knife
On Reading
刀 | とう tou
noun
: (single-edged) sword; katana
: (Archaism) dagger; knife
: (Archaism) scalpel
刀子 dao1zi: knife
[とうし toushi: small knife that is largely ornamental or used to cut open letters and the like]
刀刃 dao1ren4: knife blade; crucial point
[とうじん toujin: sword blade]
刀俎 dao1zu3: sacrificial knife and altar
刀具 dao1ju4: cutting tool
剪刀 jian3dao1: scissors
[はさみ hasami OR せんとう sentou: scissors; tongs]
開[开]刀 kai1dao1: to perform or have an operation; to operate on or to be operated on
鐮[镰]刀 lian2dao1: sickle; curved blade to cut grain
冰刀 bing1dao1: ice skates
切刀 qie1dao1: cutter; knife
Japanese expression
刀折れ矢尽きて | かたなおれやつきて katana oreya tsukite
: having exhausted every available means; having broken one’s sword and exhausted one’s arrows
刀折れ矢尽きる | かたなおれやつきる katana oreya tsukiru
: It’s all over now
Chinese idiom
刀槍不入 [刀枪不入] dao1 qiang1 bu4 ru4
: lit. impervious to sword or spear; fig. invulnerable; untouchable; thick-skinned; impervious to criticism
一刀兩斷 [一刀两断] yi1 dao1 liang3 duan4
: lit. one knife to cut two segments; fig. to make a clean break; firm resolution to break off a relation
單刀直入 [单刀直入] dan1 dao1 zhi2 ru4
: to get straight to the point
借刀殺人 [借刀杀人] jie4 dao1 sha1 ren2
: to lend sb a knife to kill sb; to get sb else to do one’s dirty work; to attack using the strength of another
笑裡藏刀 [笑里藏刀] xiao4 li3 cang2 dao1
: lit. a dagger hidden in smiles; friendly manners belying hypocritical intentions; when the fox preaches, look to the geese
刀子嘴，豆腐心 dao1 zi5 zui3 , dou4 fu5 xin1
: to have a sharp tongue but a soft heart
放下屠刀，立地成佛 fang4 xia4 tu2 dao1 , li4 di4 cheng2 fo2
: lay down butcher’s knife, become a Buddha on the spot; instant rehabilitation; to repent and be absolved of one’s crimes
色字頭上一把刀 [色字头上一把刀] se4 zi4 tou2 shang4 yi1 ba3 dao1
: lit. there is a knife above the character for lust; fig. lascivious activities can lead to bitter consequences
象形 Pictographic.
Picture of a knife, the portion representing the handle only visible in the older form of the character.
Semantic / Historical Variant:
刂 dao1: knife radical 18
“Knife” radical #18
Look-alike:
力 li4 | li: power; capability; influence
[kun: ちから chikara; つとめる tsutomeru; ちからづく chikarazuku; ちからづける chikarazukeru.
on: りょく ryoku; りき riki]
Examples:
none applicable
Resources: Chinese Dictionary | Japanese Dictionary
