刃

rèn

丿 + 刀

Definitions

rèn (noun) edge of blade; cutting edge

Etymology

Pictograph of a knife. Similar to 刀 (knife), with an added dot marking where the blade is.

About

刃 is a pictograph of a knife, analogous to 刀, but it incorporates a distinctive dot on the blade to specify the cutting edge. Rather than representing the entire knife, this added mark functions as a semantic indicator that isolates the blade as the intended meaning. Consequently, the character primarily denotes the sharp edge or blade of a bladed weapon or cutting implement. Through metonymic extension, the meaning shifted from the part to the whole, allowing 刃 to refer to the weapon itself, especially swords and knives in martial usage. In addition, it adopted a verbal sense: to kill or execute with a blade, directly linked to the lethal cutting action of the edge.

Etymology Hide

Oracle (~1250-1000 BC)

Seal Chu (Warring States: 475-221 BC)

Seal Shuowen (~100 AD)

Clerical Qin dynasty (221-206 BC)

Traditional Modern

Simplified Modern

Example Sentences Hide

这把刀的刃很锋利。

Zhè bǎ dāo de rèn hěn fēnglì.

The blade of this knife is very sharp.

小心别碰到刃。

Xiǎoxīn bié pèng dào rèn.

Be careful not to touch the blade.

刀刃上有一点锈。

Dāo rèn shàng yǒu yīdiǎn xiù.

There is a little rust on the blade.

他用刃切开了绳子。

Tā yòng rèn qiē kāi le shéngzi.

He used the blade to cut the rope.

这把匕首的刃很短。

Zhè bǎ bǐshǒu de rèn hěn duǎn.

The blade of this dagger is very short.

刃的材质是不锈钢。

Rèn de cáizhì shì bùxiùgāng.

The material of the blade is stainless steel.

在打磨之后，刃变得非常锋利。

Zài dámó zhīhòu, rèn biàn dé fēicháng fēnglì.

After sharpening, the blade became very sharp.

工程师设计了新型的刃具以提高效率。

Gōngchéngshī shèjì le xīnxíng de rènjù yǐ tígāo xiàolǜ.

The engineer designed a new type of blade tool to improve efficiency.

Related Characters

Composed characters:

Component: 丿

Component: 刀

刃