1.
small knife; pocketknife; penknife
A small knife used for cutting, carving, or whittling. In traditional Japanese contexts, refers to a small utility knife, including the small knife paired with a katana in a sword mounting.
小刀で鉛筆を削る。
To sharpen a pencil with a small knife.
工作の時間に小刀を使った。
I used a small knife during crafts class.
祖父は小刀で器用に木を彫って動物の形を作った。
My grandfather skillfully carved animal shapes from wood with a small knife.
Refers to a small utility knife, historically used for tasks like sharpening pencils, whittling wood, and light carving. In Japanese sword culture, the 小刀 is a small auxiliary knife fitted into the scabbard (鞘) of a katana.
Note that this word can also be read as こがたな or しょうとう. The reading こがたな is the native Japanese (kun'yomi) reading and is more common for the small utility knife. The on'yomi reading しょうとう is used in some martial arts and medical contexts.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 小刀で削る — to whittle/shave with a small knife
- 小刀で彫る — to carve with a small knife
- 切り出し小刀 — carving knife; craft knife
SIMILAR WORDS:
- ナイフ — knife; general loanword, covers all types of knives
- 包丁 — kitchen knife; specifically for cooking
- カッター — box cutter, utility knife; modern everyday cutting tool
- 短刀 — short sword/dagger; a weapon, not a tool