ナイフ

Pattern visualization

Examples

1. ナイフでパンを切ります。▶ —
   I cut the bread with a knife.
2. ナイフとフォークの使い方を習いました。▶ —
   I learned how to use a knife and fork.

Collocations

Mnemonic

Naifu (ナイフ) is the katakana borrowing of English "knife" — Western-style cutlery. Japanese tradition centers on hashi (chopsticks), so naifu appears in Western or formal-dining contexts. Kitchen knives are houchou (包丁, native word): naifu (table cutlery) vs houchou (cooking tool) is a strict split, more so than Korean "naifu." Pronunciation: na-i-fu, 3 mora; unlike English, the initial cluster shows no silent "k." When English loans into Japanese, expect pronunciation shifts. The set phrase is naifu to fooku (knife and fork).

Quick check

1. Japanese kitchen knife for cutting ingredients?

   • Houchou — native kitchen knife
   • Naifu — table knife
   • Hasami — scissors
   • Supuun — spoon