刺针 (cì zhēn) — pricker, prod (a sharp-pointed tool or object for poking or piercing)

Definition

A pointed tool or natural spine (cactus, plant thorn) used to poke or pierce. Pairs with 刺, 扎, and 戳 as a physical puncturing action.

noun
prickerprod (a sharp-pointed tool or object for poking or piercing)
Measure word · 根

Examples

  • 刺针。
    Tā yòng cì zhēn qīng qīng cì le yí xià qì qiú.
    He gently poked the balloon with a prod.
  • 刺针。
    Zhè zhǒng zhí wù de cì zhēn hěn fēng lì.
    The spines on this plant are very sharp.
  • 刺针。
    Gōng rén yòng cì zhēn jiǎn chá jī qì nèi bù.
    The worker used a pricker to inspect the inside of the machine.

Origin

Compound word
构词法gòucífǎ
偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

刺cìprick
针zhēnneedle

'刺' pricking plus '针' needle names a pointed tool for poking.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
刂Written in full as刀dāoknife
Sound part声符shēngfú
朿
朿cì刺cì
Same sound today

刺 pairs 刂 (knife) with 朿, which gives the sound; the knife part fits actions like stabbing or pricking.

Open 刺 →

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

This origin belongs to the traditional form 針; 针 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú
釒Written in full as金jīnmetal
Sound part声符shēngfú
十
十shí針zhēn
The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 針 puts 釒, the metal side, beside 十, which gives the sound; 针 is a simplified shorthand.

Open 针 →

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