How to say "edge" in Japanese

• かたわらJLPT N1approx.Common
  no-adjective, adverbIts working senses are 'side' and 'beside' — it describes being at someone's or something's side. Despite the gloss 'edge', it is seldom the word you want for the physical edge of an object.
  メアリーは読書どくしょをしており、１匹ひきの猫ねこがかたわらで眠ねむっていた。↗

  Mary was reading, with a cat sleeping beside her.
• 刃はJLPT N1approx.Common
  nounThe edge of a knife or sword — the cutting edge itself, and by extension the blade. Reach for this when the sharp metal edge that cuts is what is meant.
  私のナイフの刃はは、とても鋭するどい。↗

  My knife has such a fine edge.
• 角かどJLPT N5approx.Common
  nounPrimarily 'corner' — the angle where two surfaces of a boxlike thing meet, as when you bump the corner of a table. Choose it for that kind of 'edge', not for rims or blades.
  ぎざぎざのかどが彼かれのズボンに引ひっかかって穴あなを空あけた。↗

  The jagged edge ripped a hole in his trousers.
• 縁ふちJLPT N3approx.Common
  nounThe rim or brim of something — the edge of a cup or bowl — and the brink of a cliff. Think 'rim': the border running around the top or outer edge of a thing.
  彼かれらは水瓶みずがめを縁ふちまで一杯いっぱいにした。↗

  They filled the jug to the brim.
• エッジCommon
  nounThe English loanword, taken over as-is; you meet it chiefly in technical and specialized vocabulary. For the everyday edge of a knife, table, or cup, one of the native words is normally the better choice.

For a blade's cutting edge use 刃, for corners and squared-off edges 角, for rims and brims 縁; 「かたわら」 means 'beside' rather than a physical edge, and 「エッジ」 is the borrowed word used in technical contexts.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• かたわらside
• 刃はedge (of a knife or sword)
• 角かどcorner
• 縁ふちrim
• エッジedge
• 小口こぐちcut end
• 町外れまちはずれoutskirts (of a town)
• 端はしend (e.g. of street)
• 迫力はくりょくimpressiveness
• 際きわedge
• ほとりside (esp. of a waterbody)
• 端つまedge
• へりedge (of a river, woods, etc.)
• 端面たんめんedge
• 稜りょうedge
• 端線たんせんedge
• 縁辺えんぺんedge
• 辺幅へんぷくedge
• 角っこかどっこcorner
• 端っこはしっこend
• 辺上へんじょうside
• 見切り線みきりせんboundary
• 一番端いちばんはしvery end
• 縁取るふちどるto border
• 辺へんside
• 見切りみきりedge (e.g. of an architectural member)
• ボーダーborder
• 矛先ほこさきforce (of an argument)
• 間際まぎわ(just before the) edge
• 耳みみedge
• 詰めつめend (esp. of a bridge)