1. Meaning and Usage
The core meaning of the kanji 刃 is "blade," "edge (of a sword/knife)," or "cutting edge." It refers specifically to the sharp part of a weapon or tool.
Common Readings and Words:
は (ha): The native Japanese reading, often used when referring to the blade itself.
刃 (ha): The blade, edge.
刃先 (hasaki): The very tip of a blade; the cutting edge.
やいば (yaiba): Another native reading, with a more classical or literary nuance, often used in names and dramatic contexts.
刃 (yaiba): Blade, sword.
じん (jin): A rare Sino-Japanese reading found in some compound words.
2. Correct Stroke Order
Writing 刃 correctly is simple but requires precision. The key is the placement of the final dot. It is composed of the component 刀 (katana) and a single dot.
Total Strokes: 3
Step-by-Step Breakdown:
Stroke 1: The horizontal折 (oritsu). This stroke forms the top and the curved back of the "blade."
Stroke 2: The left-falling stroke (撇). This is the main, sweeping stroke that represents the cutting edge of the blade.
Stroke 3: The dot (点). This is the crucial stroke. It is placed on the lower part of the blade, indicating the specific point of the "cutting edge."
Key Stroke Order Rules Applied:
The basic structure of the character 刀 (sword) is written first (Strokes 1 and 2).
The dot is added last to specify the meaning.
3. Historical Origins and Etymology (The "Story" Behind the Kanji)
The history of 刃 is a perfect and intuitive example of a 指事文字 (shiji moji) or indicative character.
The Origin:
The kanji 刃 is a modified pictograph. It starts with the character 刀 (katana), which is a pictograph of a "sword" or "sabre."
The Evolution of Meaning:
The character 刀 alone represents the entire weapon. To specify the most important part of the weapon—the sharp part—an indicator (the dot) was added.
The dot (丶) on 刀 indicates the location of the "blade" or "cutting edge."
This is a brilliant and simple method of creating a new character. Instead of drawing a completely new picture, a single mark on an existing character points out the specific area of interest. The dot says, "Not the whole sword, but this part right here."
This makes 刃 one of the most logically constructed kanji. Its form tells you exactly what it means.
4. Example Sentences
Here are some example sentences showing the different uses of 刃.
Referring to the Blade (は):
Romaji: Kono hōchō no ha wa surudoi.
English: The blade of this kitchen knife is sharp.
この包丁の刃は鋭い。
Using the Literary Reading (やいば):
Romaji: Hikaru yaiba ga yami o saita.
English: The gleaming blade tore through the darkness. (A literary style)
光る刃が闇を裂いた。
Referring to the Tip of the Blade:
Romaji: Hasaki kakete shimatta.
English: The tip of the blade has chipped.
刃先が欠けてしまった。
Summary
Meaning: Blade, edge, cutting edge.
Writing: 3 strokes. Write the 刀 (sword) component first, then add the dot to indicate the location of the blade.
Origin: An indicative character. It is based on the pictograph 刀 (sword), with a dot added to pinpoint the specific part that is the "cutting edge." This simple yet genius method of character creation makes its meaning instantly understandable.