<p>刀, by definition, usually has a curved blade with one sharpened edge. Thus a Samurai's sword, a scimitar, and a machete all fall into the definition of 刀. </p>

<p>If it has a double edge, and it has a straight shape, it is usually a 剑.</p>

<p>双刃剑 is the standard translation of double-edged sword. There is no usage difference between Taiwan and the mainland.</p>

<p>In very rare cases, 两面刀 is short for 两面三刀, which describes a two-faced person who is secretly trying to harm the other.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-18T08:17:30.887Z
2016-05-21T06:22:41.850Z
2016-05-21T06:22:41.850Z
Wang Dingwei
<p>双刃剑 definitely. Chinese swords are always double edged. </p>

<p>There is no 两面刀, it's too dangerous for the user. This word became a metaphor for 'double-dealers'.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-18T16:51:15.740Z
2016-05-18T16:51:15.740Z
sfy
<p>For such comparison, google is a nice tool.  You can compare the popularity of words by the number of results found by Google.
Remember to put a phrase in double quotes to search the exact phrase.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/3wYxd.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/3wYxd.png" alt="enter image description here"></a>
versus
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/NYzux.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/NYzux.png" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>Moreover,</p>

<ul>
<li>"两面刀" used to be a popular phrase in Ming dynasty.  Most search results of "两面刀" are sayings in Ming dynasty that contain "两面刀".</li>
<li>The literal meanings of "双刃剑", "两面刀" are rarely used, their metaphorical meanings are quite different.</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-20T01:58:05.360Z
Is this a location related feature? I'm in China and it doesn't give me this, even if I'm using google.com in English.
Wang Dingwei
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-21T14:11:51.570Z
@WangDingwei Which feature did you refer to?
Tianren Liu
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-23T01:20:47.550Z
Oops I though the text below "Moreover" is part of the screenshot...
Wang Dingwei
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-23T05:28:36.767Z
haha, I'd really love to have that feature!
Betty
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-19T20:05:32.267Z
2016-05-23T19:09:19.470Z
2016-05-23T19:09:19.470Z
Tianren Liu
<p>双刃剑is more graceful.Sounds like "Washington District of Columbia".(often used)  </p>

<p>两面刀is more plain.Sounds like "City".(rarely used)</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-26T13:39:22.833Z
2016-05-26T13:39:22.833Z
DMYZK
<p>双刃剑 is usually used to describe something having a good side and a bad side, it may solve a problem, but it creat another problem at the same time. Just like a double-blade-sword, you can force it to your enemy to hurt him, but if your enemy push it back, it can hurt you. 双刃剑 is never used to decribe a person.</p>

<p>两面刀 is rarely used. I think it might be used as short of 两面三刀, which means a person pretends to be your friend for today, and turns his back on you or betray you tomorrow. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-25T11:25:15.053Z
2016-05-25T11:25:15.053Z
Lora
<p>I'd like to know which of these two phrases you use more often. I know that in general they both mean "a double edged sword" is one used more in Taiwan or in mainland China? </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-20T21:34:19.323Z
This is an interesting comparison. The usage of “两面刀” is rare, "两面三刀" though is frequently used in both written and colloquial languages.
Wang Zong'an
<grammar>
双刃剑 vs。 两面刀 which is used more often?
# 双刃剑 vs。 两面刀 which is used more often?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-05-18)

I'd like to know which of these two phrases you use more often. I know that in general they both mean "a double edged sword" is one used more in Taiwan or in mainland China?

**Tags:** grammar

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: This is an interesting comparison. The usage of “两面刀” is rare, "两面三刀" though is frequently used in both written and colloquial languages.  

---

## 5 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-05-18. Score: 2

刀, by definition, usually has a curved blade with one sharpened edge. Thus a Samurai's sword, a scimitar, and a machete all fall into the definition of 刀.

If it has a double edge, and it has a straight shape, it is usually a 剑.

双刃剑 is the standard translation of double-edged sword. There is no usage difference between Taiwan and the mainland.

In very rare cases, 两面刀 is short for 两面三刀, which describes a two-faced person who is secretly trying to harm the other.


---

### Answer by username_3 on 2016-05-18. Score: 1

双刃剑 definitely. Chinese swords are always double edged.

There is no 两面刀, it's too dangerous for the user. This word became a metaphor for 'double-dealers'.


---

### Answer by username_4 on 2016-05-19. Score: 1

For such comparison, google is a nice tool. You can compare the popularity of words by the number of results found by Google.
Remember to put a phrase in double quotes to search the exact phrase.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/3wYxd.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/3wYxd.png)
versus
[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/NYzux.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/NYzux.png)

Moreover,

* "两面刀" used to be a popular phrase in Ming dynasty. Most search results of "两面刀" are sayings in Ming dynasty that contain "两面刀".
* The literal meanings of "双刃剑", "两面刀" are rarely used, their metaphorical meanings are quite different.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: Is this a location related feature? I'm in China and it doesn't give me this, even if I'm using google.com in English.  
> **username_4**: @username_2 Which feature did you refer to?  
> **username_2**: Oops I though the text below "Moreover" is part of the screenshot...  
> **username_5**: haha, I'd really love to have that feature!  

---

### Answer by username_6 on 2016-05-26. Score: 0

双刃剑is more graceful.Sounds like "Washington District of Columbia".(often used)

两面刀is more plain.Sounds like "City".(rarely used)


---

### Answer by username_7 on 2016-05-25. Score: 0

双刃剑 is usually used to describe something having a good side and a bad side, it may solve a problem, but it creat another problem at the same time. Just like a double-blade-sword, you can force it to your enemy to hurt him, but if your enemy push it back, it can hurt you. 双刃剑 is never used to decribe a person.

两面刀 is rarely used. I think it might be used as short of 两面三刀, which means a person pretends to be your friend for today, and turns his back on you or betray you tomorrow.


---

