Chinese name: 刀/刂
*刂 is a common variation of 刀 radical.
Pinyin: dāo
English name: knife
Imagery: a knife
History of radical: This radical is called knife and its variation 刂 is always placed to the right of a character. In oracle bones it is a picture of a sharp knife or an ancient weapon. In Chinese culture, gifting knives has always been considered bad luck because a knife will sever the friendship between the giver and the recipient. Characters with this radical relate to knife or its functions.
For example:
examples for 刀
- 刃 (rèn): knife edge
- 切 (qiē): cut
- 剪 (jiǎn): scissors
examples for刂
- 剑 (jiàn): sword
- 刨 (páo): peel
- 削 (xiāo): sharpen
