刀刃 (dāo rèn) — knife edge, blade; crucial point (metaphorical)

Definition

刀刃 literally means 'knife edge / blade' and is also used as a metaphor for the crucial point of an issue. Unlike synonyms such as 关键 or 核心, it emphasizes the sharp, decisive point where something tips or cuts.

noun
knife edgebladecrucial point (metaphorical)
Measure word ·

Examples

  • 刀刃
    Zhè bǎ dāo de dāo rèn fēi cháng fēng lì.
    The blade of this knife is very sharp.
  • 刀刃
    Zài zhè ge wèn tí shàng, wǒ men bì xū zhuā zhù wèn tí dāo rèn.
    On this issue, we must grasp the crucial point of the problem.
  • 刀刃
    Tán pàn yǐ jīng jìn rù le zuì guān jiàn de dāo rèn.
    The negotiation has entered the most critical stage.

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.

dāoknife

“刀” names a knife, “刃” names its edge; together they mean the knife edge.

Characters in this word

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 →

An abstract idea shown by a mark or a diagram rather than by a picture of an object.

刃 is a knife with a mark on the blade, pointing to the sharp edge.

Open 刃 →

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