刀

dāo

丿 + 𠃌

HSK 2.0Level 4

HSK 3.0Level 4

Definitions

dāo (noun) knife; blade; sword

Etymology

Pictograph of a knife.

About

The character 刀 is a simple pictograph of a knife or single-edged blade. Its curved stroke traces the cutting edge and back of the weapon, and the short stroke indicates the handle. As a semantic radical, frequently appearing as 刂 on the right side, it contributes the notion of cutting, dividing, or weapons to many compound characters. Over time, its meaning has covered all manner of edged tools and arms, occasionally extended to things shaped like a blade or used for slicing.

Etymology Hide

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Oracle etymology image

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Late Shang dynasty (~1100 BC)

Bronze etymology image

Bronze Early Western Zhou (~1000 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal etymology image

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical etymology image

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这把刀很锋利。

Zhè bǎ dāo hěn fēnglì.

This knife is very sharp.

请小心使用刀。

Qǐng xiǎoxīn shǐyòng dāo.

Please use the knife carefully.

他用刀切水果。

Tā yòng dāo qiē shuǐguǒ.

He uses a knife to cut fruit.

厨房里需要一把好刀。

Chúfáng lǐ xūyào yī bǎ hǎo dāo.

The kitchen needs a good knife.

这把刀的质量非常好。

Zhè bǎ dāo de zhìliàng fēi cháng hǎo.

The quality of this knife is very good.

医生用手术刀进行手术。

Yīshēng yòng shǒushùdāo jìnxíng shǒushù.

The doctor uses a scalpel to perform surgery.

在野外生存时，刀是重要工具。

Zài yěwài shēngcún shí, dāo shì zhòngyào gōngjù.

When surviving in the wild, a knife is an important tool.

这把陶瓷刀虽然锋利，但容易破碎。

Zhè bǎ táocí dāo suīrán fēnglì, dàn róngyì pòsuì.

This ceramic knife is sharp, but it breaks easily.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 丿

Component: 𠃌

Example Words