小手(こて)

こて
noun
kendo gauntlet; wrist guard; forearm
sportsculture
1. kendo gauntlet; wrist/forearm armor
The padded glove-and-forearm protector worn in 剣道(けんどう) (kendo). Also refers to similar wrist-and-forearm guards worn with traditional armor or in other martial arts.
小手(こて)をつける。
To put on the kendo gauntlets.
練習(れんしゅう)の後(あと)、小手(こて)を丁寧(ていねい)に干(ほ)した。
After practice, I carefully aired out my kote.
古(ふる)くなった小手(こて)を新(あたら)しいものに買(か)い替(か)えた。
I replaced my worn-out kote with new ones.
2. strike to the wrist (kendo)
In kendo, a scoring strike to the opponent's wrist/forearm. Called out as 'kote!' when delivered.
鋭(するど)い小手(こて)を決(き)めた。
He landed a sharp strike to the wrist.
試合(しあい)は小手(こて)一本(いっぽん)で勝負(しょうぶ)がついた。
The match was decided by a single kote strike.
相手(あいて)の動(うご)きを読(よ)んで、すばやく小手(こて)を打(う)った。
Reading my opponent's movement, I quickly struck their kote.

Two related meanings centered on the wrist/forearm: the protective armor itself, and the strike that targets it.

Common collocations

Kendo context

There are four scoring targets in kendo: 面(めん) (head), 小手(こて) (wrist), 胴(どう) (torso), and 突(つ)き (throat thrust). When a strike lands, the striker shouts the name of the target. The wrist gauntlets themselves are also worn during 剣道(けんどう), 薙刀(なぎなた), and some armored martial arts.

Similar words

  • 籠手(こて): same meaning but with the older/traditional kanji writing — common in historical armor contexts
  • 手甲(てっこう): hand-back covering worn by laborers and travelers — covers the back of the hand and forearm
general
Added 2026.6.6 13:04 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
28500/28868_kote