刀 dāo

“knife; blade; single-edged sword”

noun, measure wordHSK 4 · 2021 list level 3Measure word 把

新HSK等级2025 HSK 3.0 syllabus level

刀 appears in the November 2025 exam syllabus in the following numbered entry. Levels refer to the listed reading and use, not every meaning.

Entry 1137: 刀 dāo — Level 4; official annotation 4 (名). PDF page 108

Separate from the HSK 2.0 and 2021 list labels above. Compare the three lists.

用法How to use 刀

刀 (dāo) is mainly a noun meaning "knife," a bladed tool, as in 一把刀 or 用刀切菜. It can also act as a measure word for a cut or stroke made with a blade, in the pattern 动词 + 数词 + 刀 (切一刀, 砍两刀). Note that a knife as an object is counted with 把 (一把刀), not 个.

例句Example sentences

这把刀很快，切菜很方便。zhè bǎ dāo hěn kuài, qiè cài hěn fāng biàn.This knife is very sharp; it makes chopping vegetables easy.
他用刀把苹果切成了两半。tā yòng dāo bà píng guǒ qiè chéng le liǎng bàn.He cut the apple in half with a knife.
这块肉太厚，再切一刀吧。zhè kuài ròu tài hòu, zài qiè yì dāo ba.This piece of meat is too thick; make one more cut.

义项All meanings

Dāo: surname Dao
dāo: knife; blade; single-edged sword; cutlass; (slang) dollar (loanword); classifier for sets of one hundred sheets (of paper)