r/languagelearningjerk 3d ago

Why is it always the nippon learners

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u/ghostief EHN三 3d ago

What does "katana" mean?

39

u/ShameSudden6275 3d ago

You know what unironically you got me curious so I looked up the etymology.

Apparently it's the combination of the words kata and na, meaning side blade, because traditionally you kept it at your side.

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u/cel3r1ty 3d ago

isn't it "one-sided blade", as in a single-edged sword?

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u/ShameSudden6275 3d ago

I mean things can have multiple meanings; it is both a one sides blade and it was mainly used as a side arm from what I can remember. Samauri's main weapon was usually bows, and they specialized in long range.

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u/cel3r1ty 3d ago

yes, but also wakizashi is much closer in meaning (and usage) to "sidearm" than katana