刺 cì to stab
to stab; to prick; thorn
How to remember 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.
Component breakdown
刺 = 朿 thorn + 刂 knife
- 朿 thorn
- 刂 knife
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 is used
- 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.