荆棘

• Pinyin: jīng jí
• Hanzi breakdown: 荆 = 艹 + 刑 — a thorny shrub (Vitex); 棘 = 朿朿 (doubled thorns) — jujube tree, thorns

Meaning

Thorns; brambles. Prickly bushes or branches, often used metaphorically for difficulties.

Literally refers to thorny plants like brambles. Frequently used metaphorically to describe obstacles, hardships, or a difficult path. Common in literary and formal contexts. The phrase 披荆斩棘 (to blaze a trail through thorns) is a well-known idiom.

Examples

1. 创业的道路上布满了荆棘，但他从未放弃。 The path of entrepreneurship is full of thorns, but he never gave up.
2. 她一路披荆斩棘，终于成为行业领军人物。 She blazed through all obstacles and finally became a leader in the industry.
3. 小路两旁长满了荆棘，稍不留神就会被刮伤。 Both sides of the narrow path were overgrown with brambles; one careless moment could get you scratched.

Usage Guide

Context: literature, metaphor, challenges

Tone: serious

Do Say

• 荆棘丛生。(Thorns growing everywhere.)
• 披荆斩棘。(Blaze a trail through difficulties.)

Don't Say

• 玫瑰的荆棘 (Don't use 荆棘 for rose thorns — use 刺 instead; 荆棘 refers to thorny shrubs, not individual thorns on flowers)

Origin & History

Composed of 荆 (a type of thorny shrub) + 棘 (jujube tree; thorns). Both characters refer to thorny plants, together representing brambles and obstacles.

Cultural Context

Generation: All ages

Social background: Literary contexts