剣（けん、ken）
- sword

The Japanese word 剣 (けん - ken) primarily means "sword" or "blade." It refers to a bladed weapon, typically with a long, pointed metal blade used for cutting or thrusting. The word 剣 often evokes images of samurai, warriors, and historical combat. It can be used in a broader sense to refer to any sword-like object, sometimes even metaphorically, such as a sharp or incisive remark. ⚫︎ The word emphasizes a weapon's function. ⚫︎ It is frequently associated with strength, skill, and power.

⚫︎ 日本剣道 Translation: Japanese Kendo (sword-fighting) ⚫︎ 剣の腕前 Translation: Skill with a sword ⚫︎ 剣を抜く Translation: To draw a sword

You use 剣 when talking about swords, fencing, martial arts involving swords, or related topics. ⚫︎ It can be used in historical contexts, literature, or when discussing weapon proficiency. ⚫︎ It's also suitable in situations where you want to describe something sharp or incisive, similar to the metaphorical use of "blade" in English.

⚫︎ The word 剣 is usually written with the kanji 剣. ⚫︎ The hiragana reading is けん. ⚫︎ It is not typically written in katakana. ⚫︎ There are no significant variations in the okurigana.

⚫︎ 刀（かたな - katana): This refers to a specific type of Japanese sword. ⚫︎ サーベル（sāberu): This is a loanword from English for "saber." ⚫︎ 武士（ぶし - bushi）: Warrior

⚫︎ 銃（じゅう - jū): Gun, firearm ⚫︎ There are not direct antonyms because the word refers to the item not the action.

彼は剣術の達人です。 ・Translation: He is a master of swordsmanship. ・Explanation: This sentence describes someone's skill in handling swords.

その騎士は重い剣を振り回した。 ・Translation: The knight swung the heavy sword around. ・Explanation: This sentence describes a knight using a sword in combat.

The kanji 剣 is a pictographic compound, with the left side depicting a blade and the right side indicating "to cut". It's a combination of elements that visually represent a sword.