TSUMUGU · TOCFL 2 (est.) · 字
刺
刺 ＝ 朿 ＋ 刂
ㄘˋ · cì
noun — a thorn; verb — to pierce
字源 FORM — what the parts do
朿聲a tree bristling with thorns — the picture and the sound
刂義a knife
朿 draws a tree bristling with thorns — and gives the sound; the knife (刂) sharpens the point into a verb.
故事 STORY — a scene to remember it by
樹枝（朿）上全是尖的——指尖一碰，手縮回來。
The branch (朿) is all points — a fingertip touches, the hand jumps back.
字源記憶法
意 · Meanings
(本義)尖刺；扎— a thorn; to prick常用
→刺眼、刺耳— stabbing the eye, the ear
→刺激— a jab that wakes the system
→諷刺— words with a point — satire
(本義) original meaning · → ⇒ each arrow = one more step of extension
例 · Examples
1玫瑰méiguī — rose有刺。
Roses have thorns.
2魚刺卡在喉嚨hóulóng — throat裡。
A fish bone stuck in the throat.
3太陽很刺眼。刺眼、刺耳
The sun stabs the eyes.
4這句話很刺耳。刺眼、刺耳
Those words land sharp on the ear.
5他背上刺了一條龍。
A dragon, needled across his back.
Underlined 刺 is this entry; dotted words carry a gloss — hold ⇧ Shift and hover, or tap.
關 · Related
棗zǎotwo stacked — the thorny jujube tree激jī刺激's other half — the leap剌làthe near-twin — 束 inside 剌, inside 刺; the thorns are the difference