鈨 (yuán) - Japanese sword guard & the metal fitting between the blade and handle

鈨Tone 2

yuán ｜ 12 strokes ｜ radical:

喻悦

鈨 · yuán

Japanese sword guard;

the metal fitting between the blade and handle of a Japanese sword (tsuba).

Japanese sword guardthe metal fitting between the blade and handle

Usage highlights

Japanese sword guardTsuba designMetal sword fittingAntique tsubaSword guard craftsmanship

Synonyms

  • 鍔— tsuba, sword guard (more common Japanese character)
  • 剑格— sword guard (Chinese term)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The sword's guard is beautifully crafted (鈨).
  • He collects antique Japanese sword fittings (日本刀の鈨).
  • This tsuba has an intricate design (この鈨は複雑なデザインです).

Collocations

  • Japanese sword guard(日本刀の鈨)
  • Tsuba design(鈨のデザイン)
  • Metal sword fitting(金属の鈨)
  • Antique tsuba(古い鈨)
  • Sword guard craftsmanship(鈨の工芸)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • 鈨 is a Japanese kokuji (国字) character created in Japan, not used in standard Chinese.
  • The character specifically refers to tsuba, the hand guard on Japanese swords like katana.
  • In Japanese sword arts, the tsuba serves both protective and decorative functions.

FAQ