荆 jīng thorns
thorns; brambles; surname
How to remember 荆: 艹 grass + 开 open + 刂 knife = thorns. Off the trail, the boy pushes through tall grass, cuts an open path with his pocket knife, and still ends up in the thorns.
Component breakdown
荆 = 茾 + 刂 knife
- 茾
- 艹 grass
- 开 open
- 一 one
- 廾 two hands
- 刂 knife
Off the trail, the boy pushes through tall grass, cuts an open path with his pocket knife, and still ends up in the thorns.
How it is used
- Thorns/brambles - 荆棘 (jīngjí) thorns and brambles, standing for hardship: 披荆斩棘 (pījīng-zhǎnjí) to hack through thorns = overcome great obstacles to blaze a trail.
- Also in 负荆请罪 (fùjīng-qǐngzuì) to bear the birch and beg forgiveness, i.e. offer a humble apology. Literary/idiomatic; also a surname.