刀 · dāo

knife

Radical pronunciation

Radical summary

#18

Kangxi

2

Strokes

#16

Frequency

Visual hint

A knife shape with a curved right edge and flat left spine; as a side component it becomes 刂 (upright).

Suggests knives, cutting, chopping, or actions involving a sharp edge.

varies

Trace the radical, simplified, traditional, and variant forms when available.

刀刂

3 examples

刀

dāo

knife; blade

HSK 4

切

qiē

to cut; to slice

HSK 3

到

dào

to arrive; to reach

HSK 1

Knife radical. Found in 切 (to cut), 到 (to arrive), 别 (other/farewell). Variant 刂 on right.

A knife seen from the side: flat spine on the left, curved blade on the right.

刂: 刀 is the standalone knife shape; 刂 is the right-side variant in compound characters.
力: 刀 is a knife; 力 is strength — they look similar but mean entirely different things.

What radical is this: 刀?