芒刺

mángcì

prickle; thorn; spine; sharp bristle

Wiktionary

Entry Composition

1 芒 máng
  1. awn (of cereals)
  2. arista (of grain)
  3. tip (of a blade)
  4. Miscanthus sinensis (type of grass)
  5. variant of 邙, Mt Mang at Luoyang in Henan
=2 刺 cī (onom.) whoosh
=2 刺 cì
  1. thorn
  2. sting
  3. thrust
  4. to prick
  5. to pierce
  6. to stab
  7. to assassinate
  8. to murder
=2 刺 qì only used in 刺促 (qìcù)

Containing this entry

芒刺在背 mángcìzàibèi
  1. feeling brambles and thorns in one's back (idiom)
  2. uneasy and nervous
  3. to be on pins and needles