刺 (cī)

Etymology

Phonosemantic compound. 刂 represents the meaning and 朿 represents the sound.

Shuowen Jiezi

《說文》：“刺，君殺大夫曰刺。刺，直傷也。从刀，从朿，朿亦聲。”

Components

• 朿 (sound, iconic) — Pictograph of a thorned weapon or plant.
• 刂 (meaning) — 刂 is a component form of 刀.