小 刀(こがたな)

こがたな

noun

small knife; pocketknife; penknife

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(こがたな)で鉛筆(えんぴつ)を削(けず)る。

To sharpen a pencil with a small knife.

工作(こうさく)の時間(じかん)に小刀(こがたな)を使(つか)った。

I used a small knife during crafts class.

祖父(そふ)は小刀(こがたな)で器用(きよう)に木(き)を彫(ほ)って動物(どうぶつ)の形(かたち)を作(つく)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(こがたな) is a small auxiliary knife fitted into the scabbard (鞘(さや)) 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(こがたな)で削(けず)る — to whittle/shave with a small knife
小刀(こがたな)で彫(ほ)る — to carve with a small knife
切(き)り出(だ)し小刀(こがたな) — carving knife; craft knife

Similar words

ナイフ — knife; general loanword, covers all types of knives
包丁(ほうちょう) — kitchen knife; specifically for cooking
カッター — box cutter, utility knife; modern everyday cutting tool
短刀(たんとう) — short sword/dagger; a weapon, not a tool

Related Words

Compare: ナイフ (knife)

Compare: 包丁(ほうちょう) (kitchen knife)

Compare: カッター (box cutter, utility knife)

general

Added 2026.3.26 10:23 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01

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