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莿 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
莿cìthornx, 12 strokes, radical 艹
莿cìUrtica thunbergianaunknown, 12 strokes, radical 艹
cì(ci4)ci T4
  1. 1thorn
  2. 2Urtica thunbergiana
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March 24, 2026

莿cì(ci4)

The character 莿 (cì) primarily refers to 'thorn' and can represent the plant Urtica thunbergiana, known for its spiky features. It is not commonly used in everyday conversation but may appear in botanical contexts or literature focusing on flora. Understanding this character can enhance vocabulary related to plants and nature.

Strokes12Radical艹
Cultural note

In traditional Chinese medicine, certain plants with thorns, like Urtica thunbergiana, are often valued for their medicinal properties. Understanding these plants helps in appreciating their role in Chinese herbal practices.

Memory tip

Imagine a thorny plant where the thorns are sharp and prickly, resembling the character 莿. The left part (艹) suggests it's a plant, while the right part (此) can remind you of 'this thorn' pointing at the plant.

Meanings of 莿

cì(ci4)
1thorn
2Urtica thunbergiana
Exercise 1 of 2

By ear

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About 莿

莿Simplified
12Strokes
艹Radical
非语素字non-morpheme character (n-m.)Part of Speech
#—Frequency Rank

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Podcast: 莿

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AI study notes for 莿

Usage Notes

This character is relatively rare and not used in everyday conversation, so be cautious when incorporating it into speech. It's best suited for formal or academic discussions about botany. Common mistakes include confusing it with similar characters like 刺 (cì), which also means thorn but is used more frequently.

HSK Study Tips

Although 莿 is not part of the HSK vocabulary, it's beneficial for learners at higher levels who are interested in specialized topics like botany. Focus on recognizing this character in written texts related to plants to enhance comprehension.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 莿 with 刺, both meaning 'thorn' but with different usage frequencies. For example, saying '我看到莿在花园' (I saw thorns in the garden) is incorrect; instead, use '刺' for more common usage.

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 莿

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Etymology of 莿

Formation typeIdeographic 指事
六书 ClassificationIdeograph (指事字)~2% of characters
Memory hint

A plant 艹 that pricks 刺; 刺 also provides the pronunciation

Learn more about Ideograph (指事字) characters
Exercise 1 of 1

Origin

What kind of character is 莿?

Decomposition of 莿

IDS Structure⿱艹刺
莿Full character
=
艹cao3
top
刺ci1
bottom
Exercise 1 of 2

Parts

Which of these is part of 莿?

How to say thorn in Chinese

“thorn” in Chinese is莿cì

The character 莿 (cì) primarily refers to 'thorn' and can represent the plant Urtica thunbergiana, known for its spiky features. It is not commonly used in everyday conversation but may appear in botanical contexts or literature focusing on flora. Understanding this character can enhance vocabulary related to plants and nature.

When to use 莿

This character is relatively rare and not used in everyday conversation, so be cautious when incorporating it into speech. It's best suited for formal or academic discussions about botany. Common mistakes include confusing it with similar characters like 刺 (cì), which also means thorn but is used more frequently.

What learners get wrong

Learners often confuse 莿 with 刺, both meaning 'thorn' but with different usage frequencies. For example, saying '我看到莿在花园' (I saw thorns in the garden) is incorrect; instead, use '刺' for more common usage.

Write 莿

莿

Practice writing 莿 stroke by stroke. Watch the animation to learn the stroke order, then try writing it yourself.

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Word Family of 莿

Words containing this character1
莿cìUrtica thunbergiana

Frequently asked questions about 莿

莿 means 'thorn' and can also refer to the specific plant Urtica thunbergiana.

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