A santoku chef knife is a type of Japanese knife that is similar to a Western chef knife, but with some distinctive features. A santoku chef knife has a short and wide blade, usually between 5 and 7 inches long, and a flat edge that curves slightly at the tip. The blade has a double bevel edge, meaning that both sides of the blade are sharpened . A santoku chef knife can be used for various tasks, such as slicing, dicing, mincing, and chopping . The name “santoku” means “three virtues” or “three uses” in Japanese, indicating its versatility and functionality. The main difference between a santoku chef knife and a chef knife is that a santoku chef knife has a shorter and wider blade than a chef knife. A santoku chef knife is more suitable for cutting thin and precise slices of food, such as vegetables or fish, while a chef knife is more suitable for cutting large and thick pieces of food, such as meat or poultry.