研(と)ぎ師(し)

とぎし

noun

blade sharpener (profession); polisher

1. professional blade sharpener; sword polisher

A craftsperson whose trade is sharpening and polishing blades such as kitchen knives, scissors, or Japanese swords, using whetstones. The sword-polishing specialist is a highly skilled traditional craftsman.

研(と)ぎ師(し)に包丁(ほうちょう)を頼(たの)んだ。

I asked a sharpener to do my kitchen knife.

研(と)ぎ師(し)が刃物(はもの)をきれいに研(と)いだ。

The sharpener sharpened the blade beautifully.

刀(かたな)の研(と)ぎ師(し)になるには、長(なが)い修業(しゅぎょう)が必要(ひつよう)だ。

Becoming a sword polisher requires long years of training.

From 研(と)ぐ (to sharpen, to whet) + 師(し) (a master of a craft). Covers everyday knife and scissor sharpeners as well as the specialist 刀(かたな)の研(と)ぎ師(し) (sword polisher).

Common collocations

包丁(ほうちょう)の研(と)ぎ師(し): a kitchen-knife sharpener
刀(かたな)の研(と)ぎ師(し): a Japanese-sword polisher
研(と)ぎ師(し)に出(だ)す: to send (a blade) to a sharpener

Cultural note

Sword polishing (刀剣(とうけん)研磨(けんま)) is a recognized traditional craft; the polisher not only sharpens the edge but reveals the blade's grain and temper line.

general

Added 2026.7.18 6:17 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02

29500/29923_togishi