Japanese word

剣

Pronunciation

Romajiken

Meaning

  • nounsword

Example

この剣はとても重いです。ko no ken wa to te mo omo i de su

This sword is very heavy.

Illustration for 剣 (sword)

More examples

博物館で古い剣を見ました。haku butsu kan de furu i ken o mi ma shi ta

I saw an old sword at the museum.

Core concept

Denotes a weapon whose long blade is used for cutting or thrusting, rather than a small blade used for ordinary tasks.

Common phrases

  • 剣を抜くken o nu ku

    draw a sword

  • 剣を振るken o fu ru

    swing a sword

  • 剣を持つken o mo tsu

    hold a sword

Similar words

刀katana: A sword with a single-edged blade, often associated with Japanese sword traditions.

Definition in Japanese

柄を握って振るい、相手を切ったり突いたりするための長い刃物。gara o nigi tte fu ru i ai te o ki tta ri tsu i ta ri su ru ta me no naga i ha mono

Word origin

剣 (ken, "sword") is a Sino-Japanese word formed with the Chinese-derived character 剣, which has the on'yomi reading ken and the basic meaning "sword."

Usage tips

  • The character 剣 (ken) also appears in 剣道 (kendō), a martial art whose name means "the way of the sword" and whose practice uses bamboo swords.

Other meanings

  • bladenoun

Related words

  • 剣士kenshiswordsmannoun
  • 剣術kenjutsuswordsmanshipnoun

Word lists with this word