刃 meaning and stroke order
Edged tool, cutlery, knife edge
How to write 刃, stroke by stroke
3 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
- 1
- 2
- 3
Meaning of 刃
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- edge of blade
How 刃 is built
Ideographic (compound meaning) character. A knife 刀 sharp enough to draw blood 丶.
Radical: 刀 (knife), shared by 10 characters on this site.
How to remember 刃
Start with a knife 刀 (dāo) and add one small dot 丶 on the blade. That dot marks the sharp edge, sharp enough to draw a drop of blood, so 刃 (rèn) means the cutting edge.
刃 (rèn) is rarely used alone in everyday speech. It usually appears in words like 刀刃 (dāorèn) and in set phrases. Example: 这个问题迎刃而解。(Zhège wèntí yíngrèn'érjiě.) This problem was easily solved.
Common mistake: Learners often confuse 刃 (rèn) with 刀 (dāo) or with 忍 (rěn, to endure), which has 刃 on top of 心. Note that 刃 is fourth tone, while 忍 is third tone.
Common words with 刃
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 刀刃 | dāorèn | knife blade; crucial point | |
| 迎刃而解 | yíngrèn'érjiě | lit. (bamboo) splits when it meets the knife's edge (idiom); fig. easily solved |
刃 in example sentences
Real sentences from the Tatoeba project, with pinyin and English.
Characters that contain 刃
Learning 刃 makes these easier to recognize and write.
Questions about 刃
How many strokes are in 刃?
刃 is written with 3 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 刃 mean?
刃 (rèn) means edged tool, cutlery, knife edge. A common word with it is 刀刃 (dāorèn), meaning "knife blade; crucial point".
How do you pronounce 刃?
刃 is pronounced rèn, in the fourth tone (falling).
What is the radical of 刃?
The radical of 刃 is 刀, which carries the idea of "knife". Dictionaries list 刃 under this radical.
What does 刀刃 mean when it is not about a knife?
刀刃 (dāorèn) can also mean the place where something matters most. The phrase 把钱用在刀刃上 (bǎ qián yòng zài dāorèn shang) means to spend money where it counts.
Is 刃 used in any other common words?
Yes. You will see 利刃 (lìrèn, a sharp blade) and 白刃 (báirèn, a naked blade) in written Chinese and in stories about swords and fighting.