[[Characters]] #Characters \ #Objects-and-Machinery \ #Tools # 刃 rèn blade, edge of a knife ## Components [[刀 dāo]] [[刀 (dāo)]] [[丶 (zhǔ)]] ## Meaning The character "刃" (rèn) is commonly used today to mean: 1. Blade or edge of a knife. 2. Figuratively, it can also mean the sharp edge of anything, not just a knife. ## History The character "刃" (rèn) originally depicted the sharp edge of a knife. Its shape resembled a knife, with a short stroke at the edge indicating the blade's position. Therefore, its original meaning is "knife edge." The blade is the sharpest part of a knife. This character is found in the phrase "兵不血刃" (bīng bù xuè rèn), meaning "soldiers not using their swords. Later, "刃" was extended to become a verb, meaning to kill with a knife, as in "手刃亲仇" (shǒu rèn qīn chóu, to kill one's personal enemy with one's own hands). ## Evolution ### Oracular Script ![[刃 ora.svg]] ### Bronze Script ![[刃 bronce.svg]] ### Seal Script ![[刃 seal.svg]] ### Clerical Script ![[刃 cle.svg]] ### Regular Script ![[刃 reg.svg]]