包丁

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 包丁 is a noun read ほうちょう, meaning a kitchen knife used to cut food.
• Basic usage: Use 包丁で野菜を切る when it is the cutting tool and 包丁を洗う when it is the object being cleaned.
  • よく研いだ包丁で野菜を細く切りました。 describes finely slicing vegetables with a well-sharpened kitchen knife; 使った包丁を洗い、乾いた布で拭きます。 describes washing the used knife and wiping it with a dry cloth.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• 包丁で切る
  • で marks the kitchen knife as the tool used to cut the vegetables.
• よく研いだ
  • This means that the blade has been thoroughly sharpened, not merely that the knife is new.
• 布で拭く
  • The second で marks the dry cloth used for wiping.