刀

sword, saber

JLPT N1 Grade 2 2 strokes

Kun'yomi: かたな・そり
On'yomi: トウ
Radical: 刀 · knife (knife, blade)

刀 means "sword, saber". It is a JLPT N1 kanji written in 2 strokes. It is read かたな・そり in native Japanese words (kun'yomi) and トウ in compounds (on'yomi). Japanese schoolchildren learn it in grade 2.

刀 in example sentences

私わたしは単刀直入たんとうちょくにゅうなんです。

Watashi wa tantouchokunyuu nan desu.

I'm direct.
単刀直入たんとうちょくにゅうに聞きいてみた。

Tantouchokunyuu ni kiite mita.

I asked him point-blank.
この刀かたなには不思議ふしぎないわれがある。

Kono katana ni wa fushigi na iware ga aru.

This sword has a strange history.

Example sentences from the Tatoeba Project, licensed CC-BY 2.0 FR.

Stroke order & writing

Want more? Practice writing from memory. Stroke-order and animation sources are on our credits page.

More 刀 (knife) kanji

Common questions

What does the kanji 刀 mean?: 刀 means "sword, saber". It is a JLPT N1 kanji.
How many strokes does 刀 have?: 刀 is written in 2 strokes.
How is 刀 read?: It is read かたな・そり in native Japanese words (kun'yomi) and トウ in compounds (on'yomi).
What JLPT level is 刀?: 刀 is a JLPT N1 kanji.

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