HSK 6

English Meaning

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📚 Example Sentences

玫瑰的刺会刺伤手指。
Méiguī de cì huì cì shāng shǒuzhǐ.
The thorns of a rose can prick fingers.
他用刀刺向敌人。
Tā yòng dāo cì xiàng dírén.
He stabbed at the enemy with a knife.
刺的疼痛让人难以忍受。
Cì de téngtòng ràng rén nányǐ rěnshòu.
The pain from a prick is hard to bear.
玫瑰有刺。
Méiguī yǒu cì.
Roses have thorns.
小心刺!
Xiǎoxīn cì!
Be careful of thorns!

💡 Memory Tip

Imagine the character 刺: the left part 朿 looks like a tree (木) with thorns sticking out, and the right part 刂 is the knife radical, reinforcing the idea of something sharp that can cut or pierce. Think of a 'cactus' (仙人掌) which is full of 刺.

📝 Usage Notes

It is a neutral word used in both spoken and written Chinese across formal and informal contexts. Common contexts include describing plants (like roses or cacti), medical situations (getting a splinter), or metaphorical uses (刺耳 - harsh to the ear).

📖 Grammar Points

As a noun, it is often used with measure words like 根 (gēn) or 颗 (kē), e.g., 一根刺 (yī gēn cì - one thorn). It can also be used in verb-object structures like 刺伤人 (cì shāng rén - to injure someone by stabbing).

🏯 Cultural Notes

In classical Chinese literature and idioms, 刺 can carry metaphorical weight, such as in 讽刺 (fěngcì), reflecting a cultural tradition of using indirect, sharp criticism. The phrase 如芒在背 (rú máng zài bèi - like having prickles on one's back) uses the concept of 刺 to describe extreme discomfort or anxiety.

🔄 Similar Words

针 (zhēn) means 'needle' or 'pin', a manufactured sharp tool, while 刺 refers to natural or incidental sharp points. 荆棘 (jīngjí) means 'thorns and brambles', a broader term for thorny plants, whereas 刺 is the individual thorn.

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