COMPONENTS & ETYMOLOGY
How 刺 is built
Traditional etymology note: 刂 (knife) suggests the meaning, while 朿 suggests the pronunciation.
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How to Write 刺 (cì) — Chinese Character Stroke Order, Meaning & Practice Sheet
thorn
cìTone 4 (Falling)Drop your pitch sharply and firmly.
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STROKE BY STROKE
Static stroke diagrams
Follow all 8 strokes in the correct order.
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StrokeSheetCharacter Writing Worksheet
cì
刺
thorn
Common words
cì jī
刺激
to provoke; to irritate; to upset; to stimulate; to excite; irritant
chōng cì
冲刺
(sports) to sprint; to spurt; to dash; to put in a big effort to achieve a goal as the deadline approaches
cì ěr
刺耳
ear-piercing
cì gǔ
刺骨
piercing; cutting; bone-chilling; penetrating (cold)
cì xiù
刺绣
to embroider; embroidery
cì yǎn
刺眼
to dazzle; to offend the eyes; dazzling; harsh (light)
Follow the stroke order, then write it on your own.
刺
刺
刺
刺
刺
刺
刺
刺
LEARNING TIP
Remember 刺
Say “cì” aloud as you replay the animation. Then hide the model and write the 8 strokes from memory. Short, repeated practice builds a stronger visual and motor connection.
Practice on CanvasWORDS WITH 刺
Common words and phrases
cì jī
to provoke; to irritate; to upset; to stimulate; to excite; irritant
chōng cì
(sports) to sprint; to spurt; to dash; to put in a big effort to achieve a goal as the deadline approaches
cì ěr
ear-piercing
cì gǔ
piercing; cutting; bone-chilling; penetrating (cold)
cì xiù
to embroider; embroidery
cì yǎn
to dazzle; to offend the eyes; dazzling; harsh (light)
Frequently asked questions
How many strokes are in 刺?
刺 is written with 8 strokes.
What does 刺 (cì) mean?
刺 (cì) means thorn.
What is the radical of 刺?
The radical of 刺 is 刂, associated with Not yet classified.