1. A type of sword: This is the most common meaning. Tachi refers to a specific type of Japanese sword characterized by its long, curved blade and a single-edged design. They were typically worn with the blade pointing downwards, and they were favored by samurai during the Kamakura and Muromachi periods.
2. "To stand" or "to be standing": This is a less common but still valid meaning. It's the verb form of the word "Tatsu" (立つ), which means "to stand."
3. A specific location: There are some places in Japan that are named "Tachi," such as Tachi-machi in the city of Kanazawa.
4. A family name: "Tachi" can also be a family name, though it's not very common.
To understand the correct meaning of "Tachi" in a specific context, you need to consider the surrounding words and the general topic of the conversation.