刃(やいば)

Literally the cutting edge or blade of a weapon or tool. Widely used in figurative expressions to describe something sharp, dangerous, or threatening.

Common collocations

• 刃(やいば)を研(と)ぐ — to sharpen a blade
• 刃(やいば)を向(む)ける — to turn a blade toward (also figurative: to direct hostility at)
• 刃(やいば)がこぼれる — blade chips/gets nicked
• 諸刃(もろは)の剣(つるぎ) — double-edged sword
• 批判(ひはん)の刃(やいば) — the blade of criticism

Pronunciation

The kanji 刃(は) has multiple readings. やいば is the kun'yomi used as an independent word. The reading は appears in compounds like 刃物(はもの) (edged tool). The on'yomi じん appears in 刃(じん) (blade, in technical contexts).

Similar words

• 刀(かたな) — katana, Japanese sword (the whole weapon)
• 刃物(はもの) — edged tool, cutting implement
• 剣(つるぎ) — sword (more literary/archaic)