Word Meaning 一刀両断

いっとうりょうだん ittouryoudan

一刀両断 is read as いっとうりょうだん (ittouryoudan) and means cutting in two with a single stroke.

Meaning

English

cutting in two with a single stroke
taking decisive action
dealing with decisively
cutting the (Gordian) knot

Reading

Kana

いっとうりょうだん

Romaji

ittouryoudan

Stroke Sequence

4 Characters • 20 Total Strokes

Study Signals and Categories

JLPT N1 Jōyō Grade 5 Kanken 6級 Yojijukugo ✓ Rank 19973 Priority D

Related Vocabulary

Max. 12

一刀

いっとう

single stroke

一挙両全

いっきょりょうぜん

killing two birds with one stone

一挙両得

いっきょりょうとく

killing two birds with one stone

一足一刀

いっそくいっとう

distance in sword combat where approaching one more step allows hitting one's opponent

一太刀

ひとたち

stroke of sword

一刀彫り

いっとうぼり

one-knife carving

一両

いちりょう

one ryō (an old coin)

一両日中

いちりょうじつちゅう

within the next couple of days

一両日

いちりょうじつ

(a) day or two

一両年

いちりょうねん

(a) year or two

一国両制

いっこくりょうせい

one country, two systems (Chinese policy)

両断

りょうだん

bisection

Example Sentences

もう少しやさしく意見してあげたらどうなの。一刀両断のもと切り捨てられた彼の立場も考えてよ。

Why don't you try expressing your opinion a little more gently? Think about how he feels getting told flatly that he's being cut loose.