刀
The 刀 radical
Knife, blade
Variants: 刂 ⺈
Memory hook
The shape of a curved blade
The 刀 radical (read dāo) means knife, blade. The HSK 3.0 data contains 40 characters and 409 words built on it — learning them together is far faster than one character at a time.
Practise the 刀 radical
Study this radical's 409 words with flashcards or a quiz.
The free plan drills 15 words per radical. Upgrade to Premium
Characters with the 刀 radical
40 charactersThe free plan shows 9 characters per HSK level (35/40 characters of this radical).
HSK 1· 4 characters
HSK 1分
to divide; to separate
别
other, different
到
to arrive (at a place)
前
in front, front
HSK 2· 4 characters
HSK 2划
to row
刚
just; just now
利
benefit, profit
刻
to carve; to engrave (characters, images)
HSK 3· 7 characters
HSK 3刀
knife
切
to cut, to slice
创
to create, originate
初
early; beginning; initial
判
to judge, to try (a case)
制
to make, formulate
剧
play, drama, film
HSK 4· 4 characters
HSK 4列
to line up, to arrange
则
rule, regulation
刷
to brush (teeth, hair)
刺
to stab, to prick
HSK 5· 2 characters
HSK 5剩
to remain
剪
to cut (with scissors)
HSK 6· 5 characters
HSK 6刊
to carve, to print (e.g. carving a printing block, printing a book)
刮
to shave, to shave one's beard
券
certificate, voucher
剑
sword
副
vice, deputy
HSK 7-9· 9 characters
HSK 7-9刁
cunning; crafty
刑
punishment, penalty
刘
Liu (a common surname)
删
to delete
刨
to plane (wood, metal)
刹
Buddhist temple; monastery
剂
dose, dosage (of medicine)
剃
to shave (hair, beard)
削
to pare, to peel (a pencil, fruit, etc.)
Vocabulary with the 刀 radical
409 wordsWords containing at least one character with the 刀 radical, ordered by HSK level.
The free plan shows 9 words per HSK level (63/409 words of this radical).
to divide; to separate
other, different
other people, others
other, others
to arrive (at a place)
in front, front
the day before yesterday
in front, the front side
to hear
a part; a portion
before; in the past
to manage to do; to achieve
to separate; to divide
score; grade
minute
just; just now
just; just now
just now; a moment ago
everything; all
Beijing opera
kind; warm; cordial
in the past; formerly; once upon a time
knife
respectively; separately
to divide into groups
to allocate; to distribute
to row a boat; boating
-th (used in fractions, ratios)
exceptional, isolated
before, prior to
ample, abundant
at first, initially
to divide into, to split into
to be distributed
to break up
to scatter, to disperse
disadvantageous, unfavorable
patent
convenient
previously, before
share
to share; to divide
analyze
separate
to classify
dairy product
division of labor
to split, to divide, to break apart
practical, feasible
just right, exactly
to found, to establish
to found, to establish
creative idea, creativity
elementary, basic
instant, a split second
all day long, from morning till night
all year round, year-round
a series
extremely, exceedingly
not beneficial to
to leave without saying goodbye
autocratic, dictatorial
To make the most of every minute and second, to waste no time.
Why learn vocabulary by the 刀 radical?
The 刀 radical hints at the meaning knife, blade. When you meet an unfamiliar character carrying it, you already know part of its meaning before reaching for a dictionary — which is why learners who know their radicals move faster.
How to study: read the memory hook, skim the 40 characters to spot the pattern, then drill the 409 words with flashcards. Spaced repetition brings each word back exactly when you need it.