木 刀(ぼくとう)

ぼくとう

noun

wooden sword; bokken

tool

1. wooden sword; bokken

A sword made of wood, used for practice in kendo and other martial arts. Also sold as souvenirs at tourist spots.

剣道(けんどう)の練習(れんしゅう)で木刀(ぼくとう)を使(つか)う。

We use wooden swords in kendo practice.

修学旅行(しゅうがくりょこう)のお土産(みやげ)に木刀(ぼくとう)を買(か)った。

I bought a wooden sword as a souvenir on the school trip.

木刀(ぼくとう)は木(き)でできているが、当(あ)たると痛(いた)い。

Wooden swords are made of wood, but they hurt when they hit you.

木刀(ぼくとう) is a practice sword made of wood, used primarily for martial arts training in 剣道(けんどう) and other 武道(ぶどう). It is formed from 木(ぼく) (wood) + 刀(とう) (sword).

Common collocations

木刀(ぼくとう)で素振(すぶ)りをする — to practice swings with a wooden sword
木刀(ぼくとう)を振(ふ)る — to swing a wooden sword
木刀(ぼくとう)を構(かま)える — to hold a wooden sword at the ready

Related words

竹刀(しない) — bamboo sword (used in kendo sparring)
刀(かたな) — Japanese sword; katana
真剣(しんけん) — real sword (also means "serious")

Cultural note

Buying a 木刀(ぼくとう) is a classic souvenir for Japanese students on school trips, particularly to historical sites like Kyoto or Nara.

Related Words

Related: 竹刀(しない) (bamboo sword)

Related: 真剣(しんけん) (real sword)

general

Added 2026.3.25 21:57 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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