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道Nihongo Path
刺

刺·stab, pierce

On-yomi
シ
Kun-yomi
さ(す)さ(さる)

By Nihongo PathUpdated

Stroke order

Write it in this order; the numbers mark where each stroke starts.

8 strokes, numbered in writing order. Data: KanjiVG (CC BY-SA 3.0).

Common words

WordReadingMeaning
刺すさすto stab, pierce, sting
刺さるささるto stick into, get stuck in
名刺めいしbusiness card
刺身さしみsashimi

Example sentences

  1. 公園で蚊に刺された。

    こうえんでかにさされた。

    I got bitten by a mosquito in the park.

  2. 初対面でまず名刺を交換した。

    しょたいめんでまずめいしをこうかんした。

    On meeting for the first time we exchanged business cards.

  3. 夕食に新鮮な刺身を食べた。

    ゆうしょくにしんせんなさしみをたべた。

    We ate fresh sashimi for dinner.

Similar-looking kanji

Do not confuse these on the exam.

Common mistakes

  • Writing the left side as 束 instead of 朿
  • Reading 名刺 as めいさつ — it is めいし

Memory aid

Picture it

朿 (a thorny branch) with the knife radical 刂 beside it — something pointed going in.

Vocabulary using this kanji

Quick check

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What does the kanji 刺 mean?