短剣

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 短剣 (たんけん) is a concrete noun for a short-bladed weapon.
• Basic usage: 装飾のある短剣の模型 is a model representing a decorated dagger, while 短剣を鞘に納める makes an actual dagger the object placed in a sheath.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Model referent and action object
  • In 短剣の模型, the object seen is a 模型; in 短剣を鞘に納める, the object is the dagger itself. The two occurrences should not both be treated as actual weapons.