santoku
noun
san·to·ku ˌsan-ˈtō-kü 
plural santokus
: a medium-sized, multipurpose kitchen knife of Japanese origin that has a lightweight blade with a straight or slightly curved cutting edge and a spine that curves downward to the tip
The santoku has long been the Japanese equivalent of a chef's knife … . Compared with a classic chef's knife, the santoku is typically shorter and has a thinner blade, a stubbier tip, and a straighter edge.
Maryellen Driscoll
Maryellen Driscoll
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The most common one in the U.S. is the santoku, which is a general-purpose knife that’s distinct from Western-style blades in a few important ways. Edmund Torr, Popular Science, 25 Feb. 2021 Two common shapes in the U.S. are the gyuto (chef’s knife) and the shorter santoku. Sarah Jampel, Bon Appétit, 9 Nov. 2020
Edmund Torr, Popular Science, 25 Feb. 2021 Two common shapes in the U.S. are the gyuto (chef’s knife) and the shorter santoku. Sarah Jampel, Bon Appétit, 9 Nov. 2020 Word History
Etymology
borrowed from Japanese santoku-(bōchō), literally, "three-virtues (knife)," from san "three" + toku "virtue"
Note: The Japanese word supposedly refers to the multiple functions of the knife (an adaptation of Western kitchen knives), though its precise origin has not been illuminated.
First Known Use
1993, in the meaning defined above