刺す|さすsasu[1]atamadaka (head-high)

JLPT N2approx.Common
Definitions
  1. godan verb, transitive verbto pierce; to stab; to prick; to stick; to thrust
    アリスは頭あたまに花はなをさしています。↗
    Alice has a flower in her hair.
  2. godan verb, transitive verbto sting; to biterarely also written 螫す
    蚊かにたくさん刺さされました。↗
    I got a lot of mosquito bites.
  3. godan verb, transitive verbto sew; to stitch; to embroider
  4. godan verb, transitive verbto pole (a boat)
  5. godan verb, transitive verbto catch (with a limed pole)
  6. godan verb, transitive verb, baseballto put (a runner) out; to pick off
Conjugation
Dictionary form刺す(さす)
Polite (masu)刺します(さします)
Negative (nai)刺さない(ささない)
polite (masen)刺しません(さしません)
classical zu / nu刺さず・刺さぬ(ささず・ささぬ)
Past (ta)刺した(さした)
polite (mashita)刺しました(さしました)
Past negative (nakatta)刺さなかった(ささなかった)
polite (masen deshita)刺しませんでした(さしませんでした)
Te form刺して(さして)
Potential刺せる(させる)
Passive刺される(さされる)
Causative刺させる(ささせる)
Causative passive刺させられる(ささせられる)
Conditional (ba)刺せば(させば)
tara刺したら(さしたら)
Volitional刺そう(さそう)
polite (mashou)刺しましょう(さしましょう)
Imperative刺せ(させ)

Common forms generated by rule; see the senses for honorific or irregular usage.

Transitive / intransitive pair
transitive刺すさす⇄intransitive刺さるささる
とげが指ゆびに刺ささる
指ゆびにとげを刺さす
With 刺さる, the emphasis is on the pointed item itself becoming stuck (とげが指に刺さる); with 刺す, the emphasis is on the action of inserting it into a target (指にとげを刺す).

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Synonyms & antonyms
  • Synonym突き刺すつきさすNeutralThrusts a sharp object in with force, as in 「ナイフを突き刺す」; it need not go all the way through. 「刺す」 is the more general term.
  • Synonym突くつくNeutralPoking or prodding with a pointed object or a finger; the tip doesn't necessarily enter. 「刺す」 has a sharp point going in.
  • Synonym刺突しとつWrittenWritten style for the act of stabbing or piercing, also a military bayonet thrust; in everyday speech say 「刺す」.
  • RelatedつつくNeutralPoking or prodding with a pointed object or a finger; the tip doesn't necessarily enter. 「刺す」 has a sharp point going in.
  • Related差し込むさしこむNeutralInserts something into a gap or slot, and also describes light streaming in; 「刺す」 is a sharp point entering.
  • RelatedつっつくCasualColloquial: light, repeated poking, also picking at someone's faults; 「刺す」 drives a point in.
  • Related小突くこづくCasualColloquial for light pokes or nudges with a finger or stick; 「刺す」 is a sharp point piercing in.
  • Related突き立てるつきたてるNeutralThrusts something in forcefully so it stands upright, as in 「旗を突き立てる」; 「刺す」 is broader in use.
  • RelatedチクチクCasualMimetic word for a prickling, needle-like sting, as in 「チクチクする」; 「刺す」 is the action itself.
  • Antonym抜くぬくNeutralThe opposite of 「刺す」 in the piercing-in vs. pulling-out pair: it means to pull or draw out.

Use 「刺す」 for a sharp point entering something, including insect stings or bites. For thrusting in with force, 「突き刺す」; for poking, 「突く」; for inserting into a gap or light streaming in, 「差し込む」; for a prickling sting, 「チクチク」. The antonym is 「抜く」, to pull out.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

Japanese definitions
  1. 細長ほそながいもので物ものを貫つらぬく。
  2. (「差さす」、「挿さす」とも) とがっているものを、貫つらぬくように突つく。
  3. (「螫さす」とも) 虫むしが血ちを吸すったり、毒どくを針はりで注そそいだりする。
  4. 故意こいに傷付きずつけようと刃物はもので相手あいてを突つく。
  5. 針はりを使つかって縫ぬう。
  6. 鳥黐とりもちで鳥とりを捕つかまえる。
  7. (「差さす」とも) 船ふねを動うごかすために棹さおで水底みなそこをつく。転てんじて櫓やぐらを使つかって船ふねをこぐ。
  8. 走者そうしゃにボールをつけタッチアウトにする。
  9. 感覚器官かんかくきかんに刺激しげきをあたえる。
  10. 結むすぶ。また、板いたで物ものを作つくる。
Kanji in this word
English equivalents

JLPT vocabulary levels are community estimates, not official (no official lists have been published since the 2010 revision).

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