刺

2 readings · tap one to hear it

thorn; sting; thrust; to prick; to pierce; to stab; to assassinate; to murder

Sound it out + = · + =

Formation & memory

Break the character into parts you already know.

Phono-semantic compound (形声字)

刂 meaning “knife” + 朿 sound ( cì )

Components 朿刂

thorn · Heisig RSH #423

thorn + saber

Keyword method from Heisig's Remembering Simplified Hanzi.

The most common words first — learning a character in context makes it stick.

Word	Pinyin	Meaning
话中有刺	huà zhōng yǒu cì	one's words carry barbs; one's remarks are sarcastic
刺儿头	cì r tóu	troublesome person; difficult person to deal with
眼中刺	yǎn zhōng cì	a thorn in one's eye; fig. a thorn in one's flesh
刺儿话	cì r huà	biting words; stinging words
肉中刺	ròu zhōng cì	a thorn in one's flesh
眼中钉，肉中刺	yǎn zhōng dīng , ròu zhōng cì	a thorn in one's side
刺五加	cì wǔ jiā	manyprickle (Acanthopanax senticosus), root used in TCM
刺中	cì zhòng	to hit with a piercing blow
刺头	cì tóu	see 刺兒頭\|刺儿头[ci4 r5 tou2]
刺胞动物	cì bāo dòng wù	cnidarian (member of the phylum Cnidaria, including jellyfish and corals)
刺儿	cì r	a thorn; fig. to ridicule sb; fig. sth wrong
马刺	mǎ cì	spur (on riding boots)
刺花	cì huā	to tattoo; tattoo
行刺	xíng cì	to assassinate
刺儿李	cì r lǐ	gooseberry
刀片刺网	dāo piàn cì wǎng	razor wire
刺眼	cì yǎn	to dazzle; to offend the eyes; dazzling; harsh (light); crude (colors); unsightly
名刺	míng cì	visiting card; name card
刺字	cì zì	to tattoo
鱼刺	yú cì	fishbone

Characters sharing the sound component 朿 — compare how they read.

Character	Pinyin	Meaning
朿 sound part	cì	thorn, sting, prickle; to stab; to assassinate
策	cè	to urge, to whip; method, plan, policy
棘	jí	jujube tree; thorns, brambles