刾 (cì) - To stab & to prick

刾Tone 4

cì ｜ 8 strokes ｜ radical: 刂

橙丁

刾 · cì

To stab;

to prick;

to pierce;

an archaic variant of 刺.

To stabto prickto pierce

Usage highlights

to stabto piercethorn prickassassinateacupuncture needleirritation

Synonyms

  • 刺— to stab; to prick (modern equivalent)
  • 戳— to poke; to stab
  • 扎— to pierce; to prick

Antonyms

  • 护— to protect; to guard
  • 愈— to heal; to recover

Usage & contexts

Examples

  • The sharp object can pierce (刾) the skin.
  • This character is an ancient form of 刺 (cì).
  • Historical texts sometimes use 刾 instead of 刺.

Collocations

  • to stab(刾穿)
  • to pierce(刾入)
  • thorn prick(芒刾)
  • assassinate(刾杀)
  • acupuncture needle(针刾)
  • irritation(讽刾)

Idioms

  • To speak with hidden barbs(话中带刾)
  • Thorns and brambles(芒刾在背)
  • Assassinate a king(刾王杀驾)

Cultural background

FAQ
  • 刾 is an ancient variant form of the modern character 刺 (cì), meaning to stab or pierce.
  • This character appears in historical texts and classical literature but is rarely used in modern writing.
  • The character reflects the concept of sharp objects causing penetration or injury.

FAQ