刺

cì
HSK 6
#1,056 most
frequent character
thorn, splinter, to stab, to pierce
noun
verb

Character breakdown

Source: Make Me a Hanzi.

刺 joins 朿 cì, a sharp spear, with 刂 knife. 朿 also supplies the sound. The first meaning was to stab with a weapon; it grew to pierce, assassinate, and a thorn or sting. Read cī, it is just a sound word, borrowed for its sound.

刺 as a component in other characters

picture1 character
莿

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Example Sentences

这朵花有很多刺。
zhè duǒ huā yǒu hěnduō cì 。
This flower has many thorns.
他用刀刺了一下苹果。
tāyòng dāo cì le yīxià píngguǒ 。
He stabbed the apple with a knife.
小心不要被刺到。
xiǎoxīn búyào bèicì dào 。
Be careful not to get pricked.

Same Characters, Different Readings

刺cī
(onom.) whoosh

Words with similar meanings

刺痛cìtòng
sting
More specifically refers to a sharp pain caused by a prick, often used in a more intense or emotional context.
刺扎cìzā
stab
Indicates the action of stabbing, often used in a more aggressive context.

Homophones

HSK 2
次cì
next in sequence, second
赐cì
to bestow

Words Starting With 刺

刺激cì jī
to provoke; to irritate; to upset; to stimulate; to excite; irritant

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Public Lists with 刺

Emergencies & Accidents
First aid, natural disasters, incidents, urgent help, and safety measures.
Body Parts
Head, arms, legs, internal organs, and basic anatomy.
HSK 6
All words for the HSK 6 test
Plants
Trees, flowers, crops, herbs, and other plant-related terms.