刀|かたなkatana[3]odaka (tail-high)

1. nounsword (esp. Japanese single-edged); katana
   「刀かたなの投擲とうてきの練習れんしゅう？」「すっぽ抜ぬけただけです」↗

   "Practising sword throwing?" "It just slipped out of my hands."
2. nounscalpel
3. nounchisel; burin; graver
4. nounknife money (knife-shaped commodity money used in ancient China)

• Synonym剣けんNeutralA double-edged sword, or swordsmanship as in 「剣道」; 「刀」 usually means a single-edged Japanese sword.
• Related小刀こがたなNeutralA small knife or whittling knife, or the short sword (wakizashi) a samurai wore at his waist.
• Related短刀たんとうNeutralA short blade under one shaku in length; 「刀」 on its own usually suggests a long sword.
• RelatedナイフNeutralLoanword for Western-style knives such as table knives; 「刀」 typically means a Japanese sword.
• RelatedソードNeutralLoanword for a sword, used mostly in games and fantasy works; for a real Japanese blade, 「刀」 is the word.
• Related合い口あいくちNeutralA guardless short blade, smaller than 「刀」; it can also mean a companion you get along well with.
• RelatedどすCasualColloquial underworld slang for a blade used in attacks; also a menacing edge in someone's voice.
• Related九寸五分くすんごぶWrittenWritten, old-fashioned name for a self-defense dagger, from its length of about nine sun five bu.
• Related短剣たんけんNeutralA short sword, often double-edged; also the hour hand of a clock.
• Related匕首あいくちWrittenWritten-style word, read 「あいくち」, for a short blade with no guard (tsuba).
• Related段平だんびらNeutralAn old-fashioned word for a long sword with a wide blade, seen mostly in period dramas.
• Related神剣しんけんWrittenA divine sword bestowed by or offered to the gods, such as one of the Three Sacred Treasures.
• Related腰の物こしのものNeutralOld-fashioned term for a sword worn at the waist; by extension, anything carried on the belt.

Use 「刀」 for a single-edged Japanese sword. Say 「剣」 for double-edged swords or kendo, 「短刀」 or 「匕首」 for short blades, 「ナイフ」 for Western knives, and 「ソード」 in games and fantasy. The rest are niche: 「小刀」 a small knife or samurai's wakizashi, 「どす」 underworld slang, 「段平」 a wide-bladed sword of period dramas, 「神剣」 a sacred sword, 「腰の物」 an old word for a waist-worn sword.

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

1. （かたな）刀剣とうけん。（日本語にほんごとしては特とくに）日本刀にほんとう。
2. （とう、かたな、がたな）刀剣とうけん。
3. （とう、かたな、がたな）包丁ほうちょう、ナイフの類たぐい。