刺: the kanji for stab; pierce
刺 is a JLPT N2 kanji that means stab; pierce. Below are its readings, 5 common words and example sentences, all with audio.
Stroke order
刺 is written in 8 strokes. The red stroke is the one to write next, and the dot shows where it starts.
Words by reading
刺 has 3 readings in the official Jōyō Kanji Table. Below are 5 common words grouped by reading. Tap ▶ to hear each word (audio plays with a free account).
シ (shi)
On reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 名刺めいし · meishi | business card |
| 刺激しげき · shigeki | stimulus |
さす (sasu)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 刺すさす · sasu | to stab; to sting |
| 刺身さしみ · sashimi | sashimi (raw fish) |
ささる (sasaru)
Kun reading.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 刺さるささる · sasaru | to stick into |
Example sentences for work and daily life
- 初めて会った人と名刺を交換した。Hajimete atta hito to meishi o kōkan shita.I exchanged business cards with someone I had just met.
- 蚊に刺されてかゆい。Ka ni sasarete kayui.I was bitten by a mosquito, and it itches.
- 新鮮な刺身を食べた。Shinsen na sashimi o tabeta.I ate fresh sashimi.
- 指にとげが刺さった。Yubi ni toge ga sasatta.I got a splinter in my finger.
- 海外での生活はいい刺激になった。Kaigai de no seikatsu wa ii shigeki ni natta.Living abroad was a good stimulus.
Questions about 刺
How many strokes does 刺 have?
刺 is written in 8 strokes. The stroke order is shown at the top of this page.
What are the readings of 刺?
The on readings are shi (シ). The kun readings are sasu (さす), sasaru (ささる).
What JLPT level is 刺?
N2. The JLPT does not publish official kanji lists, so this level is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used through 2009.
About the JLPT level
The JLPT does not publish official lists of kanji for each level. The level on this page is a guide based on the official Test Content Specifications used for the test through 2009. The JLPT states that the current N2 is designed to match the former Level 2.
More JLPT N2 kanji
Movement and actions
Executive Japanese by CCN is one-on-one online Japanese for managers and directors doing business in Japan.
Sources
- Jōyō Kanji Table (常用漢字表), Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan, 2010: readings and special readings of 刺
- JLPT Frequently Asked Questions, The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services: how current levels match the former levels
- Stroke order diagrams are based on KanjiVG by Ulrich Apel, used under CC BY-SA 3.0. The diagrams on this page are shared under the same license.