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March 24, 2026
刀dāo(dao1)
刀 (dāo) primarily means 'knife' or 'blade' and refers to a single-edged cutting tool. It can also denote a type of sword or a measure for certain quantities, such as paper. In various contexts, it can be used both literally and metaphorically, often representing sharpness or precision.
Strokes2Radical刀Frequency#1091DifficultyMedium
Cultural note
In Chinese cuisine, the knife is a symbol of the chef's skill, and the way one wields a knife can reflect the importance of precision and technique in food preparation. Knife skills are often emphasized in culinary schools in China.
Memory tip
Imagine a knife (刀) slicing through an apple. The character looks like a blade with a handle, and 'dāo' sounds like 'dough'—a soft substance that can be cut easily. Picture a chef skillfully using the knife to create beautiful dough pastries.
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AI study notes for 刀
Quick Contrast
剑 (jiàn) - use 刀 for single-edged tools, while 剑 refers specifically to double-edged swords.
Usage Notes
Be careful not to confuse 刀 (dāo) with other similar-sounding words. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, especially when discussing cooking or tools. Note that in some phrases, 刀 can be used metaphorically to imply sharpness in arguments or discussions.
HSK Study Tips
As an HSK Level 4 word, 刀 connects to other vocabulary related to cooking and tools. Students should focus on its uses in practical contexts, such as cooking or martial arts, and learn collocations like 刀具 (dāojù - cutlery) and 刀法 (dāofǎ - sword techniques).
Common Mistakes
Learners often confuse 刀 (dāo) with similar characters like 头 (tóu), which means 'head.' For example, saying '我用头切菜' (wǒ yòng tóu qiē cài - 'I use my head to cut vegetables') is incorrect; it should be '我用刀切菜' (wǒ yòng dāo qiē cài - 'I use a knife to cut vegetables').
AI-enhanced 2026-03-24
Pronunciation of 刀
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刀 (dāo) primarily means 'knife' or 'blade' and refers to a single-edged cutting tool. It can also denote a type of sword or a measure for certain quantities, such as paper. In various contexts, it can be used both literally and metaphorically, often representing sharpness or precision.
When to use 刀
Be careful not to confuse 刀 (dāo) with other similar-sounding words. It is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, especially when discussing cooking or tools. Note that in some phrases, 刀 can be used metaphorically to imply sharpness in arguments or discussions.
刀 or something close to it
剑 (jiàn) - use 刀 for single-edged tools, while 剑 refers specifically to double-edged swords.
What learners get wrong
Learners often confuse 刀 (dāo) with similar characters like 头 (tóu), which means 'head.' For example, saying '我用头切菜' (wǒ yòng tóu qiē cài - 'I use my head to cut vegetables') is incorrect; it should be '我用刀切菜' (wǒ yòng dāo qiē cài - 'I use a knife to cut vegetables').
Write 刀
刀
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Grammar patterns of 刀
刀 functions as a noun — it names a person, place, thing, or concept. Place it as a subject before the verb (主+谓) or as an object after the verb (谓+宾). Most Chinese nouns require a measure word between the number and the noun (e.g. 一个/三本). It carries 9 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.
These fruit knives are very good for stripping apple skins off.
10
这些园丁剪刀又轻又好用.
zhèxiē yuán Dīng jiǎndāo yòu qīng yòu hǎo yòng.
These garden shears are lightweight and easy to use.
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Cultural Notes for 刀
🌏Cross-cultural Insight
In Western cultures, knives are often associated with dining etiquette, whereas in Chinese culture, the knife is more prominently linked to cooking and food preparation techniques.
Word Family of 刀
Compounds47
那nāsurname Na
分fēnto divide
解jiěsurname Xie
切qiēto cut
师shīsurname Shi
初chūat first
剪jiǎnsurname Jian
召shàosurname Shao
契qìdeed, bond, contract; to engrave
券quànbond (esp. document split in two, with each party holding one half)
叨dāogarrulous
刃rènedged tool, cutlery, knife edge
劈pīto hack
拋pāoto abandon, to throw away; to fling, to toss
挈qièto assist, to help; to lead by hand
辺biān
朷dāo
剺lí
忉dāogrieving; distressed
恝jiácarefree; indifferent
栔qì
絜jiéline, marking; to assess, to measure
舠dāo
鱽dāo
齧nièto bite, to gnaw; to erode, to wear down
刄rèn
刅chuāngto create, to make, to invent
刕lí
刧jié
刼jié
剓lí
劎jiàn
叧guǎ
屶huì
巭pu
旫tiāo
洯qiè
灱xiāo
糿yòu
芀tiáo
蛪qiè
觢shì
賴làito depend on, to rely on; to bilk, to deny; poor
辧biàn
釖dāo
魛dāo
鳭diāo
Words containing this character20
刀dāoknife
剪刀jiǎndāoscissors
刀子dāoziknife
菜刀càidāovegetable knife
小刀xiǎodāoknife
刀锋dāofēngcutting edge or point of a knife, sword or tool刀鋒
刀片dāopiànblade
刀具dāojùcutting tool
开刀kāidāoto decapitate開刀
持刀chídāoto hold a knife
刺刀cìdāobayonet
砍刀kǎndāomachete
刀刃dāorènknife blade
剃刀tìdāorazor
镰刀liándāosickle鐮刀
大刀dàdāobroadsword
尖刀jiāndāodagger
一刀切yìdāoqiēone size fits all
螺丝刀luósīdāoscrewdriver螺絲刀
刀枪不入dāoqiāngbúrùfig. invulnerable刀槍不入
Exercise 1 of 4
Characters with 刀
What does 分 mean?
Frequently asked questions about 刀
刀 refers to a single-edged knife or blade, while 剑 (jiàn) refers to a double-edged sword.
Yes, 刀 can be used metaphorically to describe sharpness in arguments or discussions.
Common phrases include 刀具 (dāojù - cutlery) and 刀法 (dāofǎ - sword techniques).
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