刺す

• Reading: さす
• Romaji: sasu
• Kanji breakdown: 刺 (shi/sa) — stab, sting, pierce, prick
• Pronunciation: /sa.sɯ/

Meaning

To stab; to sting; to prick; to pierce. The act of penetrating something with a sharp point.

A Group 1 (godan) verb conjugated with the す row. Used for insect stings (蚊に刺される), stabbing (ナイフで刺す), skewering food (串に刺す), and sewing (針を刺す). The passive form 刺される is very common for bug bites and stings. Not to be confused with 指す (to point) or 差す (to extend), which share the same reading but use different kanji.

Examples

1. 夏は蚊に刺されることが多い。 In the summer, I get stung by mosquitoes a lot.
2. 焼き鳥は串に刺して焼く料理だ。 Yakitori is a dish where food is skewered on sticks and grilled.
3. バラの棘が指に刺さって痛かった。 A rose thorn pricked my finger and it hurt.

Usage Guide

Context: daily life, cooking, nature

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

The kanji 刺 combines 朿 (thorn) and 刂 (blade radical). The image of a thorn meeting a blade creates the meaning of piercing or stabbing.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal