木刀(ぼくとう)

ぼくとう
noun
wooden sword; bokken
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.

general
Added 2026.3.25 21:57
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