# 刺

| 刺 | U+523A, &#21050; CJK UNIFIED IDEOGRAPH-523A |
| ← 刹 [U+5239] | CJK Unified Ideographs | 刻 → [U+523B] |
| 刺 | U+F9FF, &#63999; CJK COMPATIBILITY IDEOGRAPH-F9FF |
| ← 茶 [U+F9FE] | CJK Compatibility Ideographs | 切 → [U+FA00] |

## Translingual
### Han character

刺 (Kangxi radical 18, 刀+6, 8 strokes, cangjie input 木月中弓 (DBLN), four-corner 5290$_0$, composition ⿰朿刂)

#### Derived characters

* 䱨 莿 箣 𪮁 𧼕 𠩪 𤷫 𪑟 𦖝 𧌐 𭰩 𮔗

#### References

* Kangxi Dictionary: page 139, character 13
* Dai Kanwa Jiten: character 1969
* Dae Jaweon: page 316, character 4
* Hanyu Da Zidian (first edition): volume 1, page 333, character 2
* Unihan data for U+523A
* Unihan data for U+F9FF

## Chinese
### Glyph origin

* Historical forms of the character 刺
* Shuowen Jiezi (compiled in Han)
* Small seal script
| | Old Chinese |
| 債 | *ʔsreːɡs, *ʔsreːɡ |
| 積 | *ʔseɡs, *ʔseɡ |
| 刺 | *sʰeɡs, *sʰeɡ |
| 莿 | *sʰeːɡs, *raːds |
| 㓨 | *sʰeɡs |
| 朿 | *sʰeɡs |
| 漬 | *zeɡs |
| 耫 | *zraːd, *zreːɡ |
| 嘖 | *ʔsraːɡ, *ʔsreːɡ, *zreːɡ |
| 梀 | *sreːɡ, *sʰloːɡ, *sloːɡ, *l̥ʰoɡ |
| 捒 | *sreːɡ, *sroɡs, *sroɡs |
| 幘 | *ʔsreːɡ |
| 簀 | *ʔsreːɡ |
| 嫧 | *ʔsreːɡ, *sʰreːɡ, *sʰeɡ |
| 謮 | *ʔsreːɡ |
| 責 | *ʔsreːɡ |
| 皟 | *sʰreːɡ |
| 憡 | *sʰreːɡ |
| 策 | *sʰreːɡ |
| 筴 | *sʰreːɡ, *kreːb, *keːb |
| 拺 | *sʰreːɡ, *sreːɡ |
| 賾 | *zreːɡ |
| 鰿 | *zreːɡ, *ʔseɡ |
| 擌 | *sreːɡ |
| 蹟 | *ʔseɡ |
| 襀 | *ʔseɡ |
| 磧 | *sʰeɡ |
| 洓 | *sʰeɡ |
| 績 | *ʔseːɡ |
| 勣 | *ʔseːɡ |
| 樍 | *ʔseːɡ |
Phono-semantic compound (形聲 / 形声, OC *sʰeɡs, *sʰeɡ): phonetic 朿 (OC *sʰeɡs) + semantic 刂 (“knife”).

### Etymology 1

From Proto-Sino-Tibetan *m-tshyar ~ *g-zyar (“thorn, nail, tack”) (provisional) (STEDT); cognate with Tibetan ཚེར་མ (tsher ma, “thorn, thorn bush”), གཟེར་བ (gzer ba, “to bore into”), and གཟེར (gzer, “nail”) (Schuessler, 2007).
刺 (OC *tsekh) "attack, satirize" (Zuozhuan) < "criticize" (Shijing) < lit. "cause to be stabbed" is exopassive/exoactive derivation of 刺 (OC *tsek) "pierce, stab" (ibid.); 朿 (OC tsʰie$^C$) "thorn" (SW) is Han period's general tone-C derivation of 刺 (OC *tsʰiek) (ibid.)

#### Pronunciation 1

* Mandarin
    (Pinyin): cì (ci$^4$)
    (Zhuyin): ㄘˋ
* Cantonese (Jyutping): ci$^3$
* Hakka
    (Sixian, PFS): chhṳ
    (Hailu, HRS): ci$^ˇ$
* Jin (Wiktionary): ci$^3$
* Puxian Min (Pouseng Ping'ing): ci$^4$ / co$^4$
* Southern Min
    (Hokkien, POJ): chhì / chhù
    (Teochew, Peng'im): ci$^3$
* Wu (Shanghai, Wugniu): $^5$tshy
* Mandarin
** (Standard Chinese)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: cì
*** Zhuyin: ㄘˋ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: cìh
*** Wade–Giles: tzʻŭ$^4$
*** Yale: tsz̀
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: tsyh
*** Palladius: цы (cy)
*** Sinological IPA : /t͡sʰz̩⁵¹/
* Cantonese
** (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
*** Jyutping: ci$^3$
*** Yale: chi
*** Cantonese Pinyin: tsi$^3$
*** Guangdong Romanization: qi$^3$
*** Sinological IPA : /t͡sʰiː³³/
* Hakka
** (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
*** Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: chhṳ
*** Hakka Romanization System: cii
*** Hagfa Pinyim: ci$^4$
*** Sinological IPA: /t͡sʰɨ⁵⁵/
** (Hailu, incl. Zhudong)
*** Hakka Romanization System: ci$^ˇ$
*** Sinological IPA: /t͡sʰi¹¹/
* Jin
** (Taiyuan)
*** Wiktionary: ci$^3$
*** Sinological IPA (old-style): /t͡sʰz̩⁴⁵/
* Puxian Min
** (Putian, Xianyou)
*** Pouseng Ping'ing: ci$^4$
*** Báⁿ-uā-ci̍: chi̍
*** Sinological IPA : /t͡sʰi⁴²/
** (Putian)
*** Pouseng Ping'ing: co$^4$
*** Báⁿ-uā-ci̍: cheo̍
*** Sinological IPA : /t͡sʰo⁴²/
** (Xianyou)
*** Pouseng Ping'ing: co$^4$
*** Sinological IPA : /t͡sʰɵ⁴²/
* ci4 - vernacular;
* co4 - literary.
* Middle Chinese: tshjeH
Rime :
| Character | 刺 |
| Reading # | 1/2 |
| Initial (聲) | 清 (14) |
| Final (韻) | 支 (11) |
| Tone (調) | Departing (H) |
| Openness (開合) | Open |
| Division (等) | III |
| Fanqie | 七賜切 |
| Baxter | tshjeH |
| Reconstructions ||
| Zhengzhang Shangfang | /t͡sʰiᴇ$^H$/ |
| Pan Wuyun | /t͡sʰiɛ$^H$/ |
| Shao Rongfen | /t͡sʰjɛ$^H$/ |
| Edwin Pulleyblank | /t͡sʰiə̆$^H$/ |
| Li Rong | /t͡sʰie$^H$/ |
| Wang Li | /t͡sʰǐe$^H$/ |
| Bernhard Karlgren | /t͡sʰie̯$^H$/ |
| Expected Mandarin Reflex | cì |
| Expected Cantonese Reflex | ci$^3$ |
* Old Chinese
    (Baxter–Sagart): /*[tsʰ]ek-s/
    (Zhengzhang): /*sʰeɡs/
Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014) :
| Character | 刺 |
| Reading # | 1/2 |
| Modern Beijing (Pinyin) | cì |
| Middle Chinese | ‹ tshje$^H$ › |
| Old Chinese | /*[tsʰ]ek-s/ |
| English | sharp point, thorn |
| Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary. ||
Zhengzhang system (2003) :
| Character | 刺 |
| Reading # | 1/2 |
| No. | 1746 |
| Phonetic component | 朿 |
| Rime group | 賜 |
| Rime subdivision | 0 |
| Corresponding MC rime | 刺 |
| Old Chinese | /*sʰeɡs/ |

##### Definitions

刺
* a pointed structure which is able to pierce something (spike, spine, thorn, etc.)
    alt. forms: 剌
* (literary, or in compounds) visiting card
    名刺 ― míngcì ― name card
    投刺 ― tóucì ― to submit one's card (as to tender one's resignation, etc)
    From: c. mid-16th century, Zong Chen ,《報劉一丈書》, translated in English by Lin Yutang, 1960.
    Jí mén zhě chí cì rù, ér zhǔrén yòu bù jí chū jiàn. [Pinyin]
    While the concierge goes in with his card, he [the guest] is not asked to go in and is kept waiting.

###### Descendants

* → Japanese: 刺(し) (shi)

#### Pronunciation 2

* Mandarin
    (Pinyin): cì (ci$^4$)
    (Zhuyin): ㄘˋ
* Cantonese
    (Guangzhou–Hong Kong, Jyutping): ci$^3$ / cik$^3$ / cek$^3$ / sik$^3$
    (Taishan, Wiktionary): lhu$^1$
* Hakka
    (Sixian, PFS): chhiak / chhiuk
    (Hailu, HRS): ciag / ciug
* Eastern Min (BUC): chié
* Puxian Min (Pouseng Ping'ing): ci$^4$ / cia$^5$
* Southern Min (Hokkien, POJ): chhiah / chhì / chhù
* Wu (Shanghai, Wugniu): $^5$tshy
* Mandarin
** (Standard Chinese)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: cì
*** Zhuyin: ㄘˋ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: cìh
*** Wade–Giles: tzʻŭ$^4$
*** Yale: tsz̀
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: tsyh
*** Palladius: цы (cy)
*** Sinological IPA : /t͡sʰz̩⁵¹/
* Cantonese
** (Standard Cantonese, Guangzhou–Hong Kong)
*** Jyutping: ci$^3$ / cik$^3$ / cek$^3$ / sik$^3$
*** Yale: chi / chik / chek / sik
*** Cantonese Pinyin: tsi$^3$ / tsik$^8$ / tsek$^8$ / sik$^8$
*** Guangdong Romanization: qi$^3$ / qig$^3$ / cég$^3$ / xig$^3$
*** Sinological IPA : /t͡sʰiː³³/, /t͡sʰɪk̚³/, /t͡sʰɛːk̚³/, /sɪk̚³/
** (Taishanese, Taicheng)
*** Wiktionary: lhu$^1$
*** Sinological IPA : /ɬu³³/
* Hakka
** (Sixian, incl. Miaoli and Neipu)
*** Pha̍k-fa-sṳ: chhiak / chhiuk
*** Hakka Romanization System: qiag$^ˋ$ / qiug$^ˋ$
*** Hagfa Pinyim: qiag$^5$ / qiug$^5$
*** Sinological IPA: /t͡sʰi̯ak̚²/, /t͡sʰi̯uk̚²/
** (Hailu, incl. Zhudong)
*** Hakka Romanization System: ciag / ciug
*** Sinological IPA: /t͡sʰiak⁵/, /t͡sʰiuk⁵/
* Eastern Min
** (Fuzhou)
*** Bàng-uâ-cê: chié
*** Sinological IPA : /t͡sʰiɛ²¹³/
* Puxian Min
** (Putian, Xianyou)
*** Pouseng Ping'ing: ci$^4$
*** Báⁿ-uā-ci̍: chi̍
*** Sinological IPA : /t͡sʰi⁴²/
** (Putian, Xianyou)
*** Pouseng Ping'ing: cia$^5$
*** Báⁿ-uā-ci̍: chiā
*** Sinological IPA : /t͡sʰia²¹/
* Southern Min
** (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, General Taiwanese)
*** Pe̍h-ōe-jī: chhiah
*** Tâi-lô: tshiah
*** Phofsit Daibuun: chiaq
*** IPA (Quanzhou): /t͡sʰiaʔ⁵/
*** IPA (Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Taipei, Kaohsiung): /t͡sʰiaʔ³²/
** (Hokkien: Xiamen, Quanzhou, Zhangzhou, General Taiwanese)
*** Pe̍h-ōe-jī: chhì
*** Tâi-lô: tshì
*** Phofsit Daibuun: chix
*** IPA (Quanzhou): /t͡sʰi⁴¹/
*** IPA (Taipei): /t͡sʰi¹¹/
*** IPA (Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Kaohsiung): /t͡sʰi²¹/
** (Hokkien: Xiamen, Zhangzhou)
*** Pe̍h-ōe-jī: chhù
*** Tâi-lô: tshù
*** Phofsit Daibuun: zhux
*** IPA (Xiamen, Zhangzhou): /t͡sʰu²¹/
* chhiah - vernacular (“to stab; to sew; to tattoo; to pick out; to expose; prickly; to remind someone during a fight”);
* chhì - vernacular (Xiamen, Zhangzhou) (“to stab (Mainland); dazzling”);
* chhù - literary (Xiamen, Zhangzhou).
* Middle Chinese: tshjek
Rime :
| Character | 刺 |
| Reading # | 2/2 |
| Initial (聲) | 清 (14) |
| Final (韻) | 昔 (123) |
| Tone (調) | Checked (Ø) |
| Openness (開合) | Open |
| Division (等) | III |
| Fanqie | 七迹切 |
| Baxter | tshjek |
| Reconstructions ||
| Zhengzhang Shangfang | /t͡sʰiᴇk̚/ |
| Pan Wuyun | /t͡sʰiɛk̚/ |
| Shao Rongfen | /t͡sʰiæk̚/ |
| Edwin Pulleyblank | /t͡sʰiajk̚/ |
| Li Rong | /t͡sʰiɛk̚/ |
| Wang Li | /t͡sʰĭɛk̚/ |
| Bernhard Karlgren | /t͡sʰi̯ɛk̚/ |
| Expected Mandarin Reflex | qi |
| Expected Cantonese Reflex | cik$^1$ |
* Old Chinese
    (Baxter–Sagart): /*[tsʰ]ek/
    (Zhengzhang): /*sʰeɡ/
Baxter–Sagart system 1.1 (2014) :
| Character | 刺 |
| Reading # | 2/2 |
| Modern Beijing (Pinyin) | cì |
| Middle Chinese | ‹ tshjek › |
| Old Chinese | /*[tsʰ]ek/ |
| English | pierce, stab |
| Notes for Old Chinese notations in the Baxter–Sagart system: * Parentheses "" indicate uncertain presence; * Square brackets "" indicate uncertain identity, e.g. *[t] as coda may in fact be *-t or *-p; * Angle brackets "<>" indicate infix; * Hyphen "-" indicates morpheme boundary; * Period "." indicates syllable boundary. ||
Zhengzhang system (2003) :
| Character | 刺 |
| Reading # | 2/2 |
| No. | 1780 |
| Phonetic component | 朿 |
| Rime group | 錫 |
| Rime subdivision | 0 |
| Corresponding MC rime | 皵 |
| Old Chinese | /*sʰeɡ/ |

##### Definitions

刺
* to stab; to prick
* (literary, or in compounds) to kill discreetly; to assassinate discreetly
    被刺 ― bèi cì ― to be assassinated
    荊軻刺秦王／荆轲刺秦王 ― Jīng Kē cì qín wáng ― Jing Ke's [attempted] assassination of the King of Qin
* (literary, or in compounds) to criticize with pointed words
    From: Zhanguo Ce, circa 5th – 3rd centuries BCE
    Qúnchén lìmín, néng miàncì guǎrén zhī guò zhě, shòu shàng shǎng. [Pinyin]
    (please add an English translation of this usage example)
* (literary, or in compounds) to pry into; to investigate
* (literary, or in compounds) to stimulate
    刺耳 ― cì'ěr ― ear-piercing
* (literary, or in compounds or Southern Min) to provoke; to irritate (through light, sound, heat, etc.)
* (fencing) to thrust; to attack the opponent at an area parallel to the weapon's length
* (fencing) thrust
    假直刺 ― jiǎ zhí cì ― feint direct thrust
* a surname, Ci
* (Hokkien, by extension) to sew; to weave; to knit; to embroider
* (Hokkien, by extension) to tattoo
* (Mainland China Hokkien) dazzling; glaring
* (Mainland China Hokkien) to pick out; to pluck out
* (Taiwanese Hokkien) to expose; to bring to light
* (Taiwanese Hokkien) prickly and uncomfortable (as if being pricked by needles)
* (Zhangzhou Hokkien) to remind someone during a fight of the number of times one has given favors to that person

###### Synonyms

* (to stab): 捅 (tǒng), (Hokkien) 𠡡
* (to kill discreetly):
* 刺殺 / 刺杀 (cìshā)
* 暗害 (ànhài)
* 暗殺 / 暗杀 (ànshā)
* 行刺 (xíngcì)
* (to criticize with pointed words):
* 作弄 (zuònòng)
* 僝僽 (chánzhòu) (literary)
* 刺溪 (chié-*kă̤) (Eastern Min)
* 創弄 / 创弄 (Hokkien)
* 創景 / 创景 (Hokkien)
* 創治 / 创治 (chhòng-tī) (Hokkien)
* 剾損 / 𠛅损 (Hokkien)
* 剾洗 / 𠛅洗 (khau-sé) (Hokkien)
* 剾洗 / 𠛅洗 (Hokkien)
* 剾褻 / 𠛅亵 (Hokkien)
* 𠢕滾 / 𠢕滚 (Hokkien)
* 取樂 / 取乐 (qǔlè)
* 取笑 (qǔxiào)
* 呾笑話 / 呾笑话 (dan$^3$ cio$^3$ uê$^7$) (Teochew)
* 呾耍笑 (Teochew)
* 嗤笑 (chīxiào)
* 嘲弄 (cháonòng)
* 嘲笑 (cháoxiào)
* 嘲訕 / 嘲讪 (cháoshàn)
* 嘲諷 / 嘲讽 (cháofěng)
* 嘲謔 / 嘲谑 (cháoxuè)
* 奚落 (xīluò)
* 尋開心 / 寻开心 (Wu)
* 巴銳 / 巴锐 (Hokkien)
* 恥笑 / 耻笑 (chǐxiào)
* 戲弄 / 戏弄 (xìnòng)
* 戲謔 / 戏谑 (xìxuè)
* 挖苦 (wākǔ)
* 捉弄 (zhuōnòng)
* 損 / 损 (sǔn) (colloquial)
* 撩 (Hakka)
* 撚化 (nan$^2$ faa$^3$) (Cantonese)
* 撮弄 (cuōnòng) (literary)
* 擺弄 / 摆弄
* 消遣 (xiāoqiǎn)
* 湊趣 / 凑趣 (còuqù)
* 𤊶人 (Hakka)
* 玩 (colloquial)
* 玩弄
* 笑 (xiào)
* 笑話 / 笑话 (xiàohuà)
* 耍 (shuǎ)
* 耍弄 (shuǎnòng)
* 耍忽 (sua$^2$ huah$^4$) (Jin)
* 落八 (Xiamen Hokkien)
* 見笑 / 见笑 (jiànxiào)
* 訕笑 / 讪笑 (shànxiào)
* 詼謔 / 诙谑 (huīxuè)
* 說風涼話 / 说风凉话 (shuō fēngliánghuà)
* 調笑 / 调笑 (tiáoxiào)
* 諦 / 谛 (dai$^3$) (Cantonese)
* 諷刺 / 讽刺 (fěngcì)
* 謔潲 / 谑潲 (Hokkien)
* 謔燒 / 谑烧 (Hokkien)
* 講笑 / 讲笑 (Cantonese, Hakka, Hokkien)
* 講耍笑 / 讲耍笑 (Hokkien)
* 譏刺 / 讥刺 (jīcì)
* 譏嘲 / 讥嘲 (jīcháo)
* 譏笑 / 讥笑 (jīxiào)
* 譏誚 / 讥诮 (jīqiào) (literary)
* 譏諷 / 讥讽 (jīfěng)
* 變弄 / 变弄 (Hokkien)
* 𧮙 (Wu)
* 起鬨 / 起哄 (qǐhòng)
* 輕體 / 轻体 (Hokkien)
* 逗 (dòu)
* 逗弄
* 鄙笑 (Hokkien)
* 酸笑 (Hokkien)
* 鈍 / 钝 (Wu)
* 開心 / 开心 (kāixīn)
* 開涮 / 开涮 (kāishuàn) (colloquial)
* 開玩笑 / 开玩笑 (kāi wánxiào)
* 鬧玩笑 / 闹玩笑 (nào wánxiào)
* 齒冷 / 齿冷 (chǐlěng) (literary)
* (to pry into):
* 偵察 / 侦察 (zhēnchá)
* 刺探 (cìtàn)
* 打探 (dǎtàn)
* 探聽 / 探听 (tàntīng)
* 斥候 (chìhòu) (literary)
* 暗探 (àntàn)
* (to knit):
* 編結 / 编结 (biānjié)
* 編織 / 编织 (biānzhī)
* 編製 / 编制 (biānzhì)
* (to expose):
* 宣洩 / 宣泄 (xuānxiè)
* 戳破 (chuōpò)
* 戳穿 (chuōchuān)
* 抖 (dǒu)
* 抖落 (dǒuluò)
* 拓破 (Hokkien)
* 拆破 (Xiamen Hokkien)
* 捅
* 揭
* 揭發 / 揭发 (jiēfā)
* 揭穿 (jiēchuān)
* 揭露 (jiēlù)
* 㨴 (kin$^2$) (Cantonese)
* 撞破 (zhuàngpò)
* 泄露 (xièlù)
* 洩漏 / 泄漏 (xièlòu)
* 洩露 / 泄露 (xièlù)
* 流露 (liúlù)
* 浮泛 (fúfàn)
* 漏 (lòu)
* 漏洩 / 漏泄 (lòuxiè)
* 破 (pò) (literary, or in compounds)
* 篤爆 / 笃爆 (duk$^1$ baau$^3$) (Cantonese)
* 篤穿 / 笃穿 (duk$^1$ cyun$^1$) (Cantonese)
* 說破 / 说破 (shuōpò)
* 說穿 / 说穿 (shuōchuān)
* 講破 / 讲破 (Hokkien)
* 講穿 / 讲穿 (gan$^3$ qyenn$^1$) (Xiang, Cantonese)
* 走 (zǒu)
* 走漏 (zǒulòu)
* 踢爆 (tek$^3$ baau$^3$) (Cantonese)
* 透露 (tòulù)
* 道破 (dàopò)
* 點破 / 点破 (diǎnpò)
* 點聊 / 点聊 (Zhangzhou Hokkien)

#### Pronunciation 3

* Mandarin
    (Pinyin): cī, cì (ci$^1$, ci$^4$)
    (Zhuyin): ㄘ, ㄘˋ
* Mandarin
** (Standard Chinese, Mainland)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: cī
*** Zhuyin: ㄘ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: cih
*** Wade–Giles: tzʻŭ$^1$
*** Yale: tsz̄
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: tsy
*** Palladius: цы (cy)
*** Sinological IPA : /t͡sʰz̩⁵⁵/
** (Standard Chinese, Taiwan)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: cì
*** Zhuyin: ㄘˋ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: cìh
*** Wade–Giles: tzʻŭ$^4$
*** Yale: tsz̀
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: tsyh
*** Palladius: цы (cy)
*** Sinological IPA : /t͡sʰz̩⁵¹/

##### Definitions

刺
* sound of rubbing

#### Pronunciation 4

* Mandarin
    (Pinyin): qì, cì (qi$^4$, ci$^4$)
    (Zhuyin): ㄑㄧˋ, ㄘˋ
* Mandarin
** (Standard Chinese, Mainland)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: qì
*** Zhuyin: ㄑㄧˋ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: cì
*** Wade–Giles: chʻi$^4$
*** Yale: chì
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: chih
*** Palladius: ци (ci)
*** Sinological IPA : /t͡ɕʰi⁵¹/
** (Standard Chinese, Taiwan)
*** Hanyu Pinyin: cì
*** Zhuyin: ㄘˋ
*** Tongyong Pinyin: cìh
*** Wade–Giles: tzʻŭ$^4$
*** Yale: tsz̀
*** Gwoyeu Romatzyh: tsyh
*** Palladius: цы (cy)
*** Sinological IPA : /t͡sʰz̩⁵¹/

##### Definitions

刺
* Only used in 刺促 (qìcù).

#### Compounds

* 倒刺 (dàocì)
* 倒流刺
* 刺促
* 刺傷 / 刺伤
* 刺兒頭 / 刺儿头
* 刺刀 (cìdāo)
* 刺刺 (cìcì)
* 刺刺不休
* 刺參 / 刺参 (cìshēn)
* 刺口
* 刺史 (cìshǐ)
* 刺史天
* 刺囊細胞 / 刺囊细胞
* 刺天
* 刺字 (cìzì)
* 刺客 (cìkè)
* 刺干
* 刺心 (cìxīn)
* 刺探 (cìtàn)
* 刺撓 / 刺挠
* 刺斜 (cìxié)
* 刺柑
* 刺柏 (cìbǎi)
* 刺桐 (cìtóng, “Indian coral tree”)
* 刺楸
* 刺槐 (cìhuái)
* 刺殺 / 刺杀 (cìshā)
* 刺毛
* 刺溜
* 刺激 (cìjī)
* 刺激性
* 刺激素
* 刺激類化 / 刺激类化
* 刺瓜 (cìguā)
* 刺痛 (cìtòng)
* 刺癢 / 刺痒
* 刺目 (cìmù)
* 刺眼 (cìyǎn)
* 刺破 (cìpò)
* 制約刺激 / 制约刺激
* 刺絲 / 刺丝
* 刺絲鞭 / 刺丝鞭
* 刺繡 / 刺绣 (cìxiù)
* 刺耳 (cì'ěr)
* 刺股
* 刺股懸梁
* 刺腦 / 刺脑
* 刺船
* 刺草
* 刺蝟 / 刺猬 (cìwèi)
* 刺謁 / 刺谒
* 刺蹙
* 刺配 (cìpèi)
* 刺青 (cìqīng)
* 刺骨 (cìgǔ)
* 刺骨懸梁
* 刺鼻 (cìbí)
* 刺齒 / 刺齿
* 劈刺
* 名刺 (míngcì)
* 如芒刺背
* 寒風刺骨 / 寒风刺骨
* 對刺 / 对刺
* 帶刺 / 带刺
* 弄刺子兒 / 弄刺子儿
* 引錐刺股 / 引锥刺股
* 懷刺漫滅 / 怀刺漫灭
* 懸梁刺股 (xuánliángcìgǔ)
* 懸梁刺骨
* 懸頭刺股 / 悬头刺股
* 懸頭刺骨 / 悬头刺骨
* 手刺
* 投刺
* 拼刺
* 挑刺兒 / 挑刺儿 (tiāocìr)
* 挑毛揀刺 / 挑毛拣刺
* 挑茶斡刺
* 探刺
* 描鸞刺鳳 / 描鸾刺凤
* 撩蜂撥刺 / 撩蜂拨刺
* 擊刺 / 击刺 (jīcì)
* 擇刺 / 择刺
* 條件刺激 / 条件刺激
* 毒刺 (dúcì)
* 毛刺 (máocì)
* 氄刺
* 泥中刺
* 泥中隱刺 / 泥中隐刺
* 流刺網 / 流刺网
* 激刺 (jīcì)
* 灸刺
* 炒刺
* 犯刺兒 / 犯刺儿
* 白刺
* 眼中刺
* 穿刺 (chuāncì)
* 粉刺 (fěncì)
* 羊膜穿刺 (yángmó chuāncì)
* 肉中刺
* 背生芒刺
* 背若芒刺
* 胡遮刺
* 胡雕刺
* 腰椎穿刺 (yāozhuī chuāncì)
* 芒刺 (mángcì)
* 芒刺在背 (mángcìzàibèi)
* 芒刺滿身 / 芒刺满身
* 草刺兒 / 草刺儿
* 蘇秦刺股 / 苏秦刺股
* 虎刺
* 蛋中挑刺
* 行刺 (xíngcì)
* 衝刺 / 冲刺 (chōngcì)
* 話中帶刺 / 话中带刺
* 調刺 / 调刺
* 諷刺 / 讽刺 (fěngcì)
* 謀刺 / 谋刺
* 謁刺 / 谒刺
* 諷刺劇 / 讽刺剧
* 諷刺文字 / 讽刺文字
* 諷刺畫 / 讽刺画 (fěngcìhuà)
* 譏刺 / 讥刺 (jīcì)
* 通刺
* 遇刺 (yùcì)
* 鎗刺 / 枪刺
* 鑽刺 / 钻刺
* 門刺 / 门刺
* 面刺
* 骨刺 (gǔcì)
* 鬧刺兒 / 闹刺儿
* 魚刺 / 鱼刺 (yúcì)
* 鰭刺 / 鳍刺
* 點刺 / 点刺

### Etymology 2

* For pronunciation and definitions of 刺 – see 赤 (“red, crimson; brown; etc.”). (This character is a variant form of 赤).

### References

* “刺”, in 漢語多功能字庫 (Multi-function Chinese Character Database)‎, 香港中文大學 (the Chinese University of Hong Kong), 2014–
* Dictionary of Chinese Character Variants (教育部異體字字典), A00347
* (Cantonese) 粵音資料集叢

## Japanese
### Kanji

(Jōyō kanji)

#### Readings

* Kun: とげ (toge, 刺)、いら (ira, 刺)
From Middle Chinese 刺 (MC tshjeH, “spike, thorn; calling card”):
* Go-on: し (shi, Jōyō)
* Kan-on: し (shi, Jōyō)
From Middle Chinese 刺 (MC tshjek, “prick, stab; criticize with pointed words”):
* Go-on: しゃく (shaku)
* Kan-on: せき (seki)
* Kun: さす (sasu, 刺す, Jōyō)、ささる (sasaru, 刺さる, Jōyō)、そしる (soshiru, 刺る)

#### Compounds

* 刺(せっ)客(かく) (sekkaku)
* 刺青(いれずみ) (irezumi)
* 肉刺(まめ) (mame)

### Etymology 1

* Kanji in this term
* 刺
* とげ Grade: S
* kun'yomi
(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)

#### Alternative forms

* 棘

#### Pronunciation

* (Tokyo) とげ [tògéꜜ] (Odaka – [2])
* IPA: [to̞ɡe̞]

#### Noun

刺(とげ) • (toge)
* a thorn, prickle
* a splinter
* a biting word

### Etymology 2

* Kanji in this term
* 刺
* さ(し) Grade: S
* kun'yomi
Nominalization of the 連用形 (ren'yōkei, “stem or continuative form”) of verb 刺す (sasu, “to pierce; to prick, sting”).

#### Alternative forms

* 刺し
* (paper string for coins): 緡

#### Pronunciation

* (Tokyo) さし [sàshíꜜ] (Odaka – [2])
* IPA: [sa̠ɕi]

#### Noun

刺(さし) • (sashi)
* Short for 米刺 (komesashi): a small tool used to extract a sample of rice from a bag in order to test its quality
* (historical) in the Edo period, a paper string used to store ぜに (zeni, “round coins with a square hole in the center”)
* Short for 刺身 (sashimi): sliced pieces of fish or other meat

##### Derived terms

* 刺(さし)身(み) (sashimi)
* 肉(にく)刺(さし) (nikusashi)
* 絽(ろ)刺(ざし) (rozashi)

### Etymology 3

* Kanji in this term
* 刺
* いら Grade: S
* kun'yomi
* Alternative spellings
* 棘 蕁
Ultimately from Proto-Japonic *era.

#### Alternative forms

* 苛, 莿

#### Noun

刺(いら) • (ira)
* a thorn, prickle
* the spine (needle-like structure) of a fish's dorsal fin
* Short for 刺草 (irakusa): nettle
* Short for 刺虫 (iramushi): the larva of the 刺蛾 (iraga, “Monema flavescens”), a species of moth
* the horn-like projections of 金平糖 (konpeitō, “sugar candy of varying colors and flavors”)
* Synonym of 水母 (kurage): a jellyfish

##### Derived terms

* 刺(イラ)草(クサ) (irakusa), 蕁麻(イラクサ) (irakusa)

### Etymology 4

* Kanji in this term
* 刺
* し Grade: S
* on'yomi
/si/ → /ɕi/
From Middle Chinese 刺 (MC tshjeH).

#### Pronunciation

* (Tokyo) し [shíꜜ] (Atamadaka –)
* IPA: [ɕi]

#### Noun

刺(し) • (shi)
* a thorn, prickle, needle
* a calling card, name card
    Synonyms: 名札 (nafuda), 名刺 (meishi)

#### Affix

刺(し) • (shi)
* stab, prick
* criticize with pointed words
* spike, thorn
* name card

##### Derived terms

* 刺(し)客(かく) (shikaku)
* 刺(し)客(きゃく) (shikyaku)
* 刺(し)激(げき) (shigeki)
* 刺(し)殺(さつ) (shisatsu)
* 刺(し)繍(しゅう) (shishū)
* 風(ふう)刺(し), 諷(ふう)刺(し) (fūshi)
* 名(めい)刺(し) (meishi)
* 有(ゆう)刺(し) (yūshi)

### References

* 1 2 3 Matsumura, Akira, editor (2006), 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese), Third edition, Tokyo: Sanseidō, →ISBN
* ↑ NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute, editor (1998), NHK日本語発音アクセント辞典 [NHK Japanese Pronunciation Accent Dictionary] (in Japanese), Tokyo: NHK Publishing, Inc., →ISBN

## Korean
### Etymology 1

From Middle Chinese 刺 (MC tshjeH).
* Recorded as Middle Korean ᄌᆞ (co)$^訓$ (Yale: co) in Sinjeung Yuhap (新增類合 / 신증유합), 1576.

#### Pronunciation

* (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA: [t͡ɕa̠(ː)]
* Phonetic hangul: [자(ː)]
** Though still prescribed in Standard Korean, most speakers in both Koreas no longer distinguish vowel length.

#### Hanja

Wikisource 刺 (eumhun 찌를 자 (jjireul ja))
* hanja form of 자 (“spike; thorn”)
* hanja form of 자 (“to stab; to prick”)

#### Compounds

* 자객 (刺客, jagaek, “assassin”)
* 자극 (刺戟, jageuk, “stimulation”)
* 자상 (刺傷, jasang)
* 자수 (刺修, jasu)
* 자수 (刺繡, jasu)
* 풍자 (諷刺, pungja)

### Etymology 2

From Middle Chinese 刺 (MC tshjek).
* Recorded as Middle Korean 쳑 (chyek)$^訓$ (Yale: chyek) in Hunmong Jahoe (訓蒙字會 / 훈몽자회), 1527.
* Recorded as Middle Korean 쳑 (chyek)$^訓$ (Yale: chyek) in Sinjeung Yuhap (新增類合 / 신증유합), 1576.

#### Pronunciation

* (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA: [t͡ɕʰʌ̹k̚]
* Phonetic hangul: [척]

#### Hanja

刺 (eumhun 찌를 척 (jjireul cheok))
* hanja form of 척 (“to stab; to prick”)

#### Compounds

* 척살 (刺殺, cheoksal, “stab to death”)

### Etymology 3
#### Hanja

刺 (eumhun 나무랄 체 (namural che))
* (literary Chinese) hanja form of 체 (“scold”)

### References

* 국제퇴계학회 대구경북지부 (國際退溪學會 大邱慶北支部) (2007). Digital Hanja Dictionary, 전자사전／電子字典.

## Vietnamese
### Han character

刺: Hán Việt readings: thích, thứ
刺: Nôm readings: chích
* chữ Nôm form of chích (“to prick”).