鞘 (qiào) - Sheath & scabbard

鞘Tone 4

qiào ｜ 16 strokes ｜ radical:

器情

鞘 · qiào

Sheath;

scabbard;

a protective covering for a blade or tool;

also refers to certain anatomical sheaths in biology.

Sheathscabbarda protective covering for a blade or tool

Usage highlights

Sword sheathKnife sheathLeather sheathTendon sheathLeaf sheathSheath dress

Synonyms

  • 套— cover; case; sheath
  • 壳— shell; casing

Antonyms

  • 刃— blade (what the sheath contains)
  • 锋— edge; point (opposite of protective covering)

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • He drew the sword from its sheath (刀鞘).
  • The knife comes with a leather sheath (皮鞘).
  • The tendon is enclosed in a sheath (腱鞘).
  • Botanists study the leaf sheath (叶鞘).

Collocations

  • Sword sheath(剑鞘)
  • Knife sheath(刀鞘)
  • Leather sheath(皮鞘)
  • Tendon sheath(腱鞘)
  • Leaf sheath(叶鞘)
  • Sheath dress(鞘裙)

Idioms

  • To draw a sword from its sheath(拔鞘出剑)
  • A sword in its sheath, a pearl in a box(匣剑帷灯)
  • To return the sword to its sheath(还剑入鞘)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • Historically associated with weaponry and martial culture, representing readiness and protection.
  • In biology and medicine, refers to protective coverings for tendons, nerves, or plant structures.
  • Used metaphorically for containment or concealment of power or danger.

FAQ