What does “katana” mean in Japanese?
Native speakers say “katana” to mean ‘sword’ or more specifically ‘Japanese sword’ in Japanese. Probably, many Japanese learners know this word well as it is quite often used in Japanese movies, anime, manga, and the like. In this blog post, however, I will explain its definition and meanings. And also, I will explain how to use it through example sentences. My explanations would help Japanese learners to understand “katana” more clearly. Then, let’s get started!
Contents
Definition and meanings of “katana”
Let me start with the definition and meanings of “katana”.
- katana – 刀 (かたな) : a noun meaning ‘sword’ or more specifically ‘Japanese sword’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. Learn more about Japanese plural.
Native speakers use this noun to mean ‘sword’ or ‘Japanese sword’ in Japanese. This is suitable to refer to Japanese traditional swords which are single-edged and slightly curved.
“Kata” is a prefix to add the meaning of ‘one side’; “na” meant ‘blade’ in the old Japanese language. From the grammatical point of view, therefore, this noun is very suitable for single-edged swords. It’s worth knowing, I think.
The definition and meanings are simple and clear, I think. Then, let me explain how to use this noun through the example sentences below.
Example #1: how to say “sword” in Japanese
kono katana wa totemo utsukushii desu – この刀はとても美しいです (このかたなはとてもうつくしいです)
This sword is very beautiful.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- kono – この : a determiner used before a noun referring to a thing close to the speaker. In the example, this is used before “katana” to say “this sword” in Japanese.
- wa – は : a binding particle working as a case marker or topic marker. In the example, this works after “kono katana” to make the subject in the sentence.
- totemo – とても : an adverb of degree meaning ‘very’, ‘much’, ‘so’, or such in Japanese. In the example, this is used to emphasize the meaning of “utsukushii”.
- utsukushii – 美しい (うつくしい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘beautiful’ in Japanese.
- desu – です : an auxiliary verb used after a noun or adjective to make it polite. Probably, this is well known as a part of Japanese desu form. In the example, this is used after “utsukushii” to make it sound polite.
This is a typical usage of “katana”. It has been translated into English as just “sword”, but we can understand that it refers to a Japanese traditional one which is single-edged and slightly curved. When we want to refer to Japanese traditional swords in Japanese, “katana” is the best option.
Example #2: another usage of “katana”
ken wa katana yori omoi – 剣は刀より重い (けんはかたなよりおもい)
Western-style swords are heavier than Japanese swords.
Below are the new words used in the example sentence.
- ken – 剣 (けん) : a noun meaning ‘sword’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. The grammatical definition and meaning are the same as those of “katana”. In most cases, however, this noun refers to swords which are double-edged and straight. So, this is more suitable for western-style swords.
- yori – より : a case particle used to provide a target of comparison. In the example, this is used after “katana” to provide the target of the comparison with “ken”. This particle is often translated into English as “than”.
- omoi – 重い (おもい) : an i-adjective meaning ‘heavy’ in Japanese.
This is another typical usage of “katana”. In this example, it is compared to “ken” which is more suitable for western-style swords. In a way, the Japanese nouns have more specific roles while the English one can cover the two different styles.
Summary
In this blog post, I’ve explained the definition and meanings of “katana”. And also, I’ve explained how to use it through the example sentences. Let me summarize them as follows.
- katana – 刀 (かたな) : a noun meaning ‘sword’ or more specifically ‘Japanese sword’ in Japanese. This can also work as plural. “Kata” is a prefix to add the meaning of ‘one side’; “na” meant ‘blade’ in the old Japanese language. From the grammatical point of view, therefore, this noun is more suitable for single-edged swords. Actually, Japanese people use this noun to refer to Japanese traditional swords which are single-edged and slightly curved.
Hope my explanations are understandable and helpful for Japanese learners.
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