<p>"钱要花在刀口上" is derived from a saying "力量集中在刀刃上"(Use your strength on the blade). Then become a saying "**花到刀刃（口）上". => Use your ** on the needed/right spot.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-25T00:47:55.387Z
2017-04-25T00:47:55.387Z
Kevman
<p>Look here: <a href="http://www.zdic.net/c/0/3f/99108.htm" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://www.zdic.net/c/0/3f/99108.htm</a></p>

<p>刀口 means the right spot 花 means spend</p>

<p>钱要花在刀口上 You should spend/use your money where it is most needed.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-24T22:12:04.767Z
2017-04-24T22:12:04.767Z
Pedroski
<p>After some more research, I found out a reason why that phrase can make sense.  There is a saying:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>好鋼應該用在刀刃上</p>
</blockquote>

<p>meaning:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>When you have high quality steel, use it to make the blade of the sword</p>
</blockquote>

<p>then "錢應該花在刀口上" is a variant of the saying above.  Maybe it can mean, when you have limited money to improve a sword, spend it on the sword's blade (instead of on the handle or on the scabbard).</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-25T08:25:04.730Z
2017-04-25T08:25:04.730Z
nonopolarity
<p>In this sentence 刀口 doesn't means real blade, it means important things or right things.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-25T07:10:08.523Z
2017-04-25T07:10:08.523Z
Chen Zhang
<p>There is another idiom in Chinese culture：</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>一分钱当两分钱花。</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Literally, it means one spend one dollar as two dollars. It is usually used to describe that kind of people who are shrewd in money matters。</p>

<p>So,I think the connection between money and 刀口 is because if you intend to  一分钱当两分钱花, then you have to cut one dollar into halves.</p>

<p>By the way, we usually say 刀刃 rather than 刀口。 But the two words have basically the same meaning.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-04-25T04:14:49.637Z
2017-04-25T04:14:49.637Z
Jesse
<p>For 錢應該花在刀口上。刀口…… and spending money. How is spending money related to 刀口?</p>

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2017-04-24T19:59:06.483Z
刀口 bkrs： fig。the most important place (edge in relation to knife) 2) 比喻十分紧要或危险的地方。
如：「钱要花在刀口上，才不会随便浪费！」、「我再也不要过这种刀口上舔血的日子了！」1) blade/edge of a knife
2) crucial point
3) cut; incision
4) occasion on which money can be spent to advantage

把劲儿使在刀口上 bring efforts to bear on the right spot

 
钱要花在刀口上 4) [where it's needed most; the crucial point; right place where sth can be put to the best use]∶最需要的地方
user6065
<idioms>
For 錢應該花在刀口上, 錢 and 刀口 are so different things... why associate 錢 with 刀口?
# For 錢應該花在刀口上, 錢 and 刀口 are so different things... why associate 錢 with 刀口?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-04-24)

For 錢應該花在刀口上。刀口…… and spending money. How is spending money related to 刀口?

**Tags:** idioms

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: 刀口 bkrs： fig。the most important place (edge in relation to knife) 2) 比喻十分紧要或危险的地方。 如：「钱要花在刀口上，才不会随便浪费！」、「我再也不要过这种刀口上舔血的日子了！」1) blade/edge of a knife 2) crucial point 3) cut; incision 4) occasion on which money can be spent to advantage  把劲儿使在刀口上 bring efforts to bear on the right spot    钱要花在刀口上 4) [where it's needed most; the crucial point; right place where sth can be put to the best use]∶最需要的地方  

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## 5 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2017-04-25. Score: 1

"钱要花在刀口上" is derived from a saying "力量集中在刀刃上"(Use your strength on the blade). Then become a saying "\*\*花到刀刃（口）上". => Use your \*\* on the needed/right spot.


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### Answer by username_3 on 2017-04-24. Score: 1

Look here: <http://www.zdic.net/c/0/3f/99108.htm>

刀口 means the right spot 花 means spend

钱要花在刀口上 You should spend/use your money where it is most needed.


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### Answer by username_0 on 2017-04-25. Score: 0

After some more research, I found out a reason why that phrase can make sense. There is a saying:

> 好鋼應該用在刀刃上

meaning:

> When you have high quality steel, use it to make the blade of the sword

then "錢應該花在刀口上" is a variant of the saying above. Maybe it can mean, when you have limited money to improve a sword, spend it on the sword's blade (instead of on the handle or on the scabbard).


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### Answer by username_4 on 2017-04-25. Score: -1

In this sentence 刀口 doesn't means real blade, it means important things or right things.


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### Answer by username_5 on 2017-04-25. Score: -1

There is another idiom in Chinese culture：

> 一分钱当两分钱花。

Literally, it means one spend one dollar as two dollars. It is usually used to describe that kind of people who are shrewd in money matters。

So,I think the connection between money and 刀口 is because if you intend to 一分钱当两分钱花, then you have to cut one dollar into halves.

By the way, we usually say 刀刃 rather than 刀口。 But the two words have basically the same meaning.


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