刺 cì to stab
to stab; to prick; thorn
怎么记住“刺”: 朿 thorn + 刂 knife = to stab. After a rose thorn pricks her thumb, the gardener cuts the bush back with a kitchen knife so it never tries to stab her again.
部件结构
形声 · Meaning + sound
One part gives the meaning, the other gives the sound.
刺 = 朿 thorn + 刂 knife
- 朿 thorn meaning + sound
- 刂 knife meaning
After a rose thorn pricks her thumb, the gardener cuts the bush back with a kitchen knife so it never tries to stab her again.
How it came to be
The knife gives the meaning, and the thorn gives the sound and adds to the meaning.
用法
- Literal verb "to stab/prick", and noun "thorn, splinter, fish bone" (鱼刺 yúcì).
- 刺激 cìjī is the everyday word for "stimulating, exciting" or, clinically, "to stimulate": 好刺激啊 (hǎo cìjī a) "so thrilling!" is common casual speech.
- 讽刺 fěngcì "to satirize, ironic" is the go-to word for sarcasm or irony in both speech and writing.
- As a bare verb ("to stab someone") it's mostly literary/news register, not everyday conversation.