刺伤 (cì shāng) — to stab (and wound); a stab wound | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A verb-object compound meaning 'to stab (and wound)'; can also be used nominally as 'a stab wound/stabbing'. Unlike a simple 'to stab', 刺伤 emphasizes the injury caused, not just the act of piercing.

verb

to stab (and wound)a stab wound

Examples

刺伤。
Dǎi tú yòng dāo cì shāng le tā.
The assailant stabbed him with a knife.
刺伤。
Tā bèi cì shāng hòu lì jí sòng wǎng yī yuàn.
He was rushed to the hospital immediately after being stabbed.
刺伤。
Zhè chǎng cì shāng shì jiàn zhèn jīng le zhěng gè shè qū.
This stabbing incident shocked the entire community.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

补充bǔchōngVerb + complement

An action followed by its result or direction.

刺 is to stab and 伤 is the wound or injury resulting from it.

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.

朿刂刺

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.

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 傷; 伤 is its simplified writing.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

𥏻

𥏻𥏻傷shāng

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The traditional form 傷 shows 人, a person, and uses 𥏻 to give the sound; the simplified 伤 is a later shorthand.

Appears in

Injury & Disability

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