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刀
Radical 18 of 214 · 2 strokes

Knife

dāo · forms 刀 / 刂

Unicode uses 刀 as a Kangxi radical category. Its reference meaning is knife; old coin; measure. The relationship to an individual character may be semantic, historical, or primarily classificatory.

47 course characters234 character–word links
Semantic role

When the formation data identifies 刀 / 刂 as semantic, the relevant character record states that role.

Phonetic role

Semantic–phonetic characters identify the component associated with historical pronunciation.

Radical classification

The primary dictionary radical is shown independently of any claim about modern meaning.

Character index

47 course characters

Expand a character to view its structure, formation analysis, and related HSK words.

Showing 47 characters.

分fēnto divide, to allocate; fraction; small unit of time or other quantity刀 radicalHSK 12 extra strokesDetails
pictographic formation

Formation: Depicts a knife ( 刀 ) being used to cut two things apart (八).

  • 八Pictographic componenteight; (separate)
  • 刀Pictographic componentknife
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon
Category radical
刀 knife
Visual structure
八 + 刀
前qiánin front, forward; former, preceding刂 radicalHSK 17 extra strokesDetails
pictographic formation

Formation: Depicts a boat (舟) moving (止) forward (前).

  • 止Pictographic component(foot); stop
  • 舟Pictographic componentboat
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon
Category radical
刂 knife
Visual structure
丷 + 一 + 刖
別biéto separate, to distinguish, to classify; to leave; other; do not, must not刂 radicalHSK 25 extra strokesDetails
pictographic formation

Formation: Pictograph depicting cutting meat off of a bone.

  • 冎Pictographic componentbone
  • 刂Pictographic componentknife
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon
Category radical
刂 knife
Visual structure
另 + 刂
别biéto separate, to distinguish, to classify; to leave; other; do not, must not刂 radicalHSK 25 extra strokesDetails
pictographic formation

Formation: Simplified form of 別. Pictograph depicting cutting meat off of a bone.

  • 冎Pictographic componentbone
  • 刂Pictographic componentknife
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon
Category radical
刂 knife
Visual structure
另 + 刂
到dàoto go to, to arrive刂 radicalHSK 26 extra strokesDetails
semantic–phonetic

Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 至 represents the meaning and 刂 represents the sound.

  • 至Semantic componentarrive
  • 刂Phonetic componentknife
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon
Category radical
刂 knife
Visual structure
至 + 刂
刚gānghard, strong, tough; just, barely刂 radicalHSK 34 extra strokesDetails
semantic–phonetic

Formation: Simplified form of 剛. Phonosemantic compound. 刂 represents the meaning and 岡 represents the sound.

  • 刂Semantic componentknife
  • 冈Phonetic componentridge; mound
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon
Category radical
刂 knife
Visual structure
冈 + 刂
HSK words with 刚2 words in this course
刮guāto shave; to scrape; to blow刂 radicalHSK 36 extra strokesDetails
semantic–phonetic

Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 刂 represents the meaning and 舌 represents the sound. Simplified form of 颳.

  • 刂Semantic componentknife
  • 舌Phonetic componenttongue
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon
Category radical
刂 knife
Visual structure
舌 + 刂
HSK words with 刮1 word in this course
刻kèto carve, to engrave; a quarter hour; a moment刂 radicalHSK 36 extra strokesDetails
semantic–phonetic

Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 刂 represents the meaning and 亥 represents the sound.

  • 刂Semantic componentknife
  • 亥Phonetic component12th earthly branch
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon
Category radical
刂 knife
Visual structure
亥 + 刂
刷shuābrush; to clean, to scrub刂 radicalHSK 36 extra strokesDetails
pictographic formation

Formation: The left component is a pictograph of a brush. The 刂 (knife) component indicates that it is a tool/utensil.

  • ◎Pictographic componentcharacterless component
  • 刂Semantic componentknife
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon
Category radical
刂 knife
Visual structure
尸 + 巾 + 刂
HSK words with 刷2 words in this course
剛gānghard, strong, tough; just, barely刂 radicalHSK 38 extra strokesDetails
semantic–phonetic

Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 刂 represents the meaning and 岡 represents the sound.

  • 刂Semantic componentknife
  • 岡Phonetic componentridge; mound
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon
Category radical
刂 knife
Visual structure
岡 + 刂
HSK words with 剛2 words in this course
刀dāoknife; old coin; measure刀 radicalHSK 40 extra strokesDetails
formation note

Formation: Pictograph of a knife.

Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon
Category radical
刀 knife
Visual structure
丿
HSK words with 刀2 words in this course
切qièto cut, to mince, to slice, to carve; close to; eager刀 radicalHSK 42 extra strokesDetails
semantic–phonetic

Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 刀 represents the meaning and 七 represents the sound.

  • 刀Semantic componentknife
  • 七Phonetic componentseven
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon
Category radical
刀 knife
Visual structure
七 + 刀
划huàto row or paddle a boat; to scratch; to plan; profitable刂 radicalHSK 44 extra strokesDetails
semantic–phonetic

Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 刂 represents the meaning and 戈 represents the sound. In simplified Chinese 划 is also used to mean "cut; slash; draw line", while in traditional Chinese this meaning is written with a separate character 劃.

  • 刂Semantic componentknife
  • 戈Phonetic componentdagger-axe
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon
Category radical
刂 knife
Visual structure
戈 + 刂
列lièa line; to arrange, to classify刂 radicalHSK 44 extra strokesDetails
semantic–phonetic

Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 刂 represents the meaning and 歹 represents the sound.

  • 刂Semantic componentknife
  • 歹Phonetic componentbad; evil
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon
Category radical
刂 knife
Visual structure
歹 + 刂
则zérule, law, regulation; grades刂 radicalHSK 44 extra strokesDetails
semantic formation

Formation: Simplified form of 則. Depicts carving inscriptions on bronzeware (鼎) with a knife (刂). Based on the original meaning "law". In ancient China, some legal writings were inscribed on bronzeware.

  • 鼎Semantic componentancient cooking pot
  • 刂Semantic componentknife
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon
Category radical
刂 knife
Visual structure
贝 + 刂
利lìgains, advantage, profit, merit刂 radicalHSK 45 extra strokesDetails
semantic formation

Formation: Depicts harvesting grain (禾) with a blade (刂). Harvest was the main source of profit in agricultural societies.

  • 禾Semantic componentgrain
  • 刂Semantic componentknife
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon
Category radical
刂 knife
Visual structure
禾 + 刂
判pànto judge; to discriminate; to conclude刂 radicalHSK 45 extra strokesDetails
semantic–phonetic

Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 刂 represents the meaning and 半 represents the sound.

  • 刂Semantic componentknife
  • 半Phonetic componenthalf
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon
Category radical
刂 knife
Visual structure
半 + 刂
則zérule, law, regulation; grades刂 radicalHSK 47 extra strokesDetails
semantic formation

Formation: Depicts carving inscriptions on bronzeware (鼎) with a knife (刂). Based on the original meaning "law". In ancient China, some legal writings were inscribed on bronzeware.

  • 鼎Semantic componentancient cooking pot
  • 刂Semantic componentknife
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon
Category radical
刂 knife
Visual structure
貝 + 刂
剧jùtheatrical plays, opera, drama; severe, acute刂 radicalHSK 48 extra strokesDetails
semantic–phonetic

Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 刂 represents the meaning and 居 represents the sound. Simplified form of 劇.

  • 刂Semantic componentknife
  • 居Phonetic componentto live, to reside; to dwell; to sit
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon
Category radical
刂 knife
Visual structure
居 + 刂
剩shèngleftovers, residue, remains刂 radicalHSK 410 extra strokesDetails
semantic–phonetic

Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 刂 represents the meaning and 乘 represents the sound.

  • 刂Semantic componentknife
  • 乘Phonetic componentascend; mount; ride
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon
Category radical
刂 knife
Visual structure
乘 + 刂
HSK words with 剩1 word in this course
劃huàto row or paddle a boat; to scratch; to plan; profitable刂 radicalHSK 412 extra strokesDetails
semantic–phonetic

Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 刂 represents the meaning and 畫 represents the sound.

  • 刂Semantic componentknife
  • 畫Phonetic componentdraw; picture; painting
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon
Category radical
刂 knife
Visual structure
畫 + 刂
劇jùtheatrical plays, opera, drama; severe, acute刂 radicalHSK 413 extra strokesDetails
semantic–phonetic

Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 刂 represents the meaning and 豦 represents the sound.

  • 刂Semantic componentknife
  • 豦Phonetic componentwild boar; fight
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon
Category radical
刂 knife
Visual structure
豦 + 刂
创chuàngto establish, to create; cut, wound, trauma刂 radicalHSK 54 extra strokesDetails
semantic–phonetic

Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 刂 represents the meaning and 仓 represents the sound. Simplified form of 創.

  • 刂Semantic componentknife
  • 仓Phonetic componentgranary; barn; storehouse
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon
Category radical
刂 knife
Visual structure
仓 + 刂
初chūbeginning, initial, primary刀 radicalHSK 55 extra strokesDetails
semantic formation

Formation: Depicts cutting out fabric (衤) with a knife (刀), the first step in making clothes.

  • 衤Semantic componentclothes
  • 刀Semantic componentknife
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon
Category radical
刀 knife
Visual structure
衤 + 刀
Also indexed under
衣 clothes
删shānto delete; to cut; to censor刂 radicalHSK 55 extra strokesDetails
compound formation

Compound formation: To cut 刂 out passages from a book 册

Category radical
刂 knife
Visual structure
册 + 刂
HSK words with 删1 word in this course
刪shānto delete; to cut; to censor刂 radicalHSK 55 extra strokesDetails
compound formation

Compound formation: To cut 刂 out passages from a book 冊

Category radical
刂 knife
Visual structure
冊 + 刂
HSK words with 刪1 word in this course
刺cìto stab; to prick, to irritate; to prod刂 radicalHSK 56 extra strokesDetails
semantic–phonetic

Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 刂 represents the meaning and 朿 represents the sound.

  • 刂Semantic componentknife
  • 朿Phonetic componentstab
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon
Category radical
刂 knife
Visual structure
朿 + 刂
HSK words with 刺3 words in this course
制zhìsystem; to establish; to manufacture; to overpower刂 radicalHSK 56 extra strokesDetails
semantic formation

Formation: Depicts cutting down a tree (木) with a knife (刂).

  • 木Semantic componentwood; tree
  • 刂Semantic componentknife
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon
Category radical
刂 knife
Visual structure
巾 + 刂
剪jiǎnscissors; to cut, to divide, to separate刀 radicalHSK 59 extra strokesDetails
semantic–phonetic

Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 刀 represents the meaning and 前 represents the sound.

  • 刀Semantic componentknife
  • 前Phonetic componentforward; before
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon
Category radical
刀 knife
Visual structure
前 + 刀
創chuàngto establish, to create; cut, wound, trauma刂 radicalHSK 510 extra strokesDetails
semantic–phonetic

Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 刂 represents the meaning and 倉 represents the sound.

  • 刂Semantic componentknife
  • 倉Phonetic componentgranary; barn; storehouse
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon
Category radical
刂 knife
Visual structure
倉 + 刂
刊kānpublication, periodical; to publish, to print刂 radicalHSK 63 extra strokesDetails
semantic–phonetic

Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 刂 represents the meaning and 干 represents the sound. Simplified form of 栞.

  • 刂Semantic componentknife
  • 干Phonetic componentshield; concern; (simp.) dry; tree trunk; do
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon
Category radical
刂 knife
Visual structure
干 + 刂
HSK words with 刊2 words in this course
刑xíngpunishment, penalty; law刂 radicalHSK 64 extra strokesDetails
semantic–phonetic

Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 刂 represents the meaning and 井 represents the sound.

  • 刂Semantic componentknife
  • 井Phonetic componentwater well
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon
Category radical
刂 knife
Visual structure
开 + 刂
HSK words with 刑1 word in this course
剂jìdose; medicine; measure word for medicines刂 radicalHSK 66 extra strokesDetails
semantic–phonetic

Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 刂 represents the meaning and 齐 represents the sound. Simplified form of 劑.

  • 刂Semantic componentknife
  • 齐Phonetic componenteven; uniform; neat
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon
Category radical
刂 knife
Visual structure
齐 + 刂
HSK words with 剂1 word in this course
券quànbond, certificate, deed; ticket; contract刀 radicalHSK 66 extra strokesDetails
semantic–phonetic

Semantic–phonetic formation: 刀 contributes the broad semantic category “knife”; 龹 contributes the historical pronunciation.

Category radical
刀 knife
Visual structure
龹 + 刀
HSK words with 券1 word in this course
刹shātemple, shrine, monastary; an instant, a moment; to brake刂 radicalHSK 66 extra strokesDetails
semantic–phonetic

Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 刂 represents the meaning and 杀 represents the sound. Simplified form of 剎.

  • 刂Semantic componentknife
  • 杀Phonetic componentkill; murder
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon
Category radical
刂 knife
Visual structure
杀 + 刂
剑jiànsword, dagger, saber刂 radicalHSK 67 extra strokesDetails
semantic–phonetic

Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 刂 represents the meaning and 佥 represents the sound. Simplified form of 劍.

  • 刂Semantic componentknife
  • 佥Phonetic componentall
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon
Category radical
刂 knife
Visual structure
佥 + 刂
HSK words with 剑1 word in this course
剎shātemple, shrine, monastary; an instant, a moment; to brake刂 radicalHSK 67 extra strokesDetails
semantic–phonetic

Semantic–phonetic formation: 刂 contributes the broad semantic category “knife”; 杀 contributes the historical pronunciation.

Category radical
刂 knife
Visual structure
杀 + 刂
削xuēto pare, to scrape, to trim刂 radicalHSK 67 extra strokesDetails
semantic–phonetic

Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 刂 represents the meaning and 肖 represents the sound.

  • 刂Semantic componentknife
  • 肖Phonetic componentresemble; similar
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon
Category radical
刂 knife
Visual structure
肖 + 刂
剝bōto peel, to skin; to exploit刂 radicalHSK 68 extra strokesDetails
semantic–phonetic

Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 刂 represents the meaning and 彔 represents the sound.

  • 刂Semantic componentknife
  • 彔Phonetic componentcarve wood
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon
Category radical
刂 knife
Visual structure
彔 + 刂
HSK words with 剝1 word in this course
剥bōto peel, to skin; to exploit刂 radicalHSK 68 extra strokesDetails
semantic–phonetic

Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 刂 represents the meaning and 录 represents the sound. Simplified form of 剝.

  • 刂Semantic componentknife
  • 录Phonetic componentcopy; record
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon
Category radical
刂 knife
Visual structure
录 + 刂
HSK words with 剥1 word in this course
剖pōuto bisect, to dissect, to slice刂 radicalHSK 68 extra strokesDetails
semantic–phonetic

Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 刂 represents the meaning and 咅 represents the sound.

  • 刂Semantic componentknife
  • 咅Phonetic componentspit out; poh (spitting onomatopoeia)
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon
Category radical
刂 knife
Visual structure
咅 + 刂
HSK words with 剖1 word in this course
剔tīto pick out; to scrape off; picky刂 radicalHSK 68 extra strokesDetails
semantic–phonetic

Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 刂 represents the meaning and 易 represents the sound.

  • 刂Semantic componentknife
  • 易Phonetic componenteasy; amiable; change
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon
Category radical
刂 knife
Visual structure
易 + 刂
HSK words with 剔1 word in this course
副fùto assist, to supplement; assistant; secondary; auxiliary刂 radicalHSK 69 extra strokesDetails
semantic–phonetic

Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 刂 represents the meaning and 畐 represents the sound.

  • 刂Semantic componentknife
  • 畐Phonetic componentfull; filled
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon
Category radical
刂 knife
Visual structure
畐 + 刂
割gēto cut, to divide, to partition; to cede刂 radicalHSK 610 extra strokesDetails
semantic–phonetic

Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 刂 represents the meaning and 害 represents the sound.

  • 刂Semantic componentknife
  • 害Phonetic componentharm
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon
Category radical
刂 knife
Visual structure
害 + 刂
HSK words with 割1 word in this course
劍jiànsword, dagger, saber刂 radicalHSK 613 extra strokesDetails
semantic–phonetic

Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 刂 represents the meaning and 僉 represents the sound.

  • 刂Semantic componentknife
  • 僉Phonetic componentall
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon
Category radical
刂 knife
Visual structure
僉 + 刂
HSK words with 劍1 word in this course
劈pīto chop, to cut apart; to split刀 radicalHSK 613 extra strokesDetails
semantic–phonetic

Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 刀 represents the meaning and 辟 represents the sound.

  • 刀Semantic componentknife
  • 辟Phonetic componentruler; law; punish
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon
Category radical
刀 knife
Visual structure
辟 + 刀
HSK words with 劈1 word in this course
劑jìdose; medicine; measure word for medicines刂 radicalHSK 614 extra strokesDetails
semantic–phonetic

Formation: Phonosemantic compound. 刂 represents the meaning and 齊 represents the sound.

  • 刂Semantic componentknife
  • 齊Phonetic componenteven; uniform; neat
Formation source · Dong Chinese Lexicon
Category radical
刂 knife
Visual structure
齊 + 刂
HSK words with 劑1 word in this course

Classification: Unicode 17.0 kRSUnicode. Structure: Make Me a Hanzi. Formation: Dong Chinese Lexicon where available, with a documented Make Me a Hanzi fallback. Method and licenses.