刺
刺 (cì) means “thorn”. It is made of 朿 + 刂 and has 8 strokes, and is an HSK 4 word in the 2021 standard.
Break 刺 into its parts
What 刺 is made of
- 朿 cì — thorn
- 木 mù — tree
- 十 — ten
- 八 bā — eight
- 冂 — frame
- 丨 — vertical stroke
- 木 mù — tree
- 刂 dāo — knife
- 丨 — vertical stroke
- 亅 — hook
Origin hint: 刂 gives the meaning, 朿 gives the sound. (from the Make Me a Hanzi dataset; treat as a memory aid where history is uncertain)
刺 stroke order
Example sentences
这种花有刺，小心手。Zhè zhǒng huā yǒu cì, xiǎoxīn shǒu.This flower has thorns, so mind your hands.
吃鱼的时候要小心鱼刺。Chī yú de shíhou yào xiǎoxīn yú cì.Watch out for fish bones when you eat fish.
Words with 刺
Also built with 朿
Quick facts
| Pinyin | cì |
|---|---|
| Meaning | thorn; fish bone; to prick |
| Strokes | 8 |
| Radical | 刀 (knife, #18) |
| Pattern | Left–right |
| HSK | HSK 4 (2021) · Old HSK 6 |
Questions about 刺
What does 刺 mean?
刺 (cì) means “thorn; fish bone; to prick”.
How many strokes does 刺 have?
刺 has 8 strokes.
What is the radical of 刺?
The radical of 刺 is 刀 (dāo, “knife”), Kangxi radical number 18.
What parts make up 刺?
刺 is made of 朿 (thorn) and 刂 (knife).
Which HSK level is 刺?
刺 is in HSK 4 (2021) and Old HSK 6.
Learn 刺 with its group
It is part of HSK 4 (2021) · Group 25: a short group with quick checks and spaced repeats.