单刀 (dān dāo) — short-hilted broadsword (used in martial arts); sport single-broadsword event (in wushu competition)

Definition

A short-hilted broadsword used in Chinese martial arts (wushu), and the name of the competition event featuring it. Refers specifically to this one-handed weapon, not double-bladed swords.

noun
short-hilted broadsword (used in martial arts)sport single-broadsword event (in wushu competition)
Measure word · 把

Examples

  • 单刀。
    Tā měi tiān liàn xí dān dāo.
    He practices the short-hilted broadsword every day.
  • 单刀。
    Bǐ sài zhōng de dān dāo xiàng mù fēi cháng jīng cǎi.
    The single-broadsword event in the competition is very exciting.
  • 单刀，。
    Zhè zhǒng dān dāo hěn qīng, róng yì shǐ yòng.
    This kind of broadsword is light and easy to handle.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

单dānsingle
刀dāoblade

单 means single and 刀 means blade, so 单刀 is a one-handed broadsword or single-blade event.

Characters in this word

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 單; 单 is its simplified writing.

The form 單 originally pictured a Y-shaped wooden stick with two stones on top.

Open 单 →

A drawing of the thing itself, worn down over three thousand years into a few strokes.

The shape of 刀 comes from a simple picture of a knife.

Open 刀 →

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