The kanji 刺 primarily conveys the meaning of "to stab," "to pierce," or "to prick." It implies a sharp object entering something, causing injury or making a mark. It can also figuratively mean to provoke or to irritate.

・On-yomi (音読み): シ (shi) ・Kun-yomi (訓読み): さ(す) (sa(su))

⚫︎ 刺身 (sashimi) Translation: Sashimi (raw sliced fish) ⚫︎ 注射 (chuusha) Translation: Injection ⚫︎ 痛いトゲが指に刺さった。(Itai toge ga yubi ni sasatta.) Translation: A painful thorn pricked my finger.

⚫︎ The kanji 刺 is a pictophonetic character. ⚫︎ The top part, 朿 (derived from 束, meaning "bundle" or "group"), suggests something gathered or concentrated. ⚫︎ The bottom part, 刂 (りっとう), is a variant of 刀 (katana), which means "sword" or "knife." ⚫︎ This combination suggests the action of a sharp object (the knife) piercing or puncturing something, like a bundle. ⚫︎ Over time, 朿 was simplified to 刺, but the essence of the meaning remained focused on the action of stabbing or piercing.