Stab

On’yomi: し
Kun’yomi: さ
Radical: 刀 Knife (Kangxi 18)

Mid-frequency: not on every page, but regular in books and magazines.

More common than 泣 (Cry), less common than 皆 (All).

A tree on the left, a head in the middle, and a knife on the right — you take a knife to a tree branch near someone's head, sharpening it into a stake to stab with.

In words

刺とげ thorn;splinter;spine;biting wordsN1

刺すさす to pierce,to stab,to prick,to thrustN2

刺さるささる to stick,to be stuckN2

刺 is rank 926 of 2,608 in published Japanese.

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