<p>朿 means &quot;thorns&quot;. From <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuowen_Jiezi" rel="nofollow noreferrer">说文解字</a>：<a href="https://www.zdic.net/hans/%E6%9C%BF" rel="nofollow noreferrer">朿，木芒也</a>。</p>
<p>Its variant character 刺 is more widely used in modern Chinese.</p>
<p>More ancient usages of inscriptions on bones or tortoise shells of the Shang Dynasty of 朿 is &quot;to stab (ritual animal sacrifices) to death&quot; as in 「朿豕」、「朿羊」、「朿魚」etc, according to <a href="https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E7%94%B2%E9%AA%A8%E6%96%87%E5%90%88%E9%9B%86" rel="nofollow noreferrer">甲骨文合集</a>.</p>
<p>策 means “horse whips” in ancient times, which was usually made of bamboos, some of which have <strong>thorns</strong> at the front end.</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/RdIvz.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/RdIvz.jpg" alt="秦始皇陵铜车马马策" /></a></p>
<p>Another hypothesis is 策 evolves from the riding command 敕 which meant to drive the horse. 说文解字: <a href="https://www.zdic.net/hans/%E7%AD%96" rel="nofollow noreferrer">以策擊馬曰敇</a>。</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-03-25T07:15:44.997Z
Mou, Felix Zhang Thank you very much for the pictures and detailed explanation. It will help in remembering the meaning of both the characters. Thanks
user27485
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-03-29T08:50:09.450Z
@user27485 If you think this answers your question, you should click the "accept" button to mark it as the accepted answer. :)
Betty
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-03-25T04:04:45.667Z
2021-03-25T04:04:45.667Z
Felix Zhang
<p>Here are the etymologies for both characters:</p>
<p><strong>策</strong></p>
<p><em>Outlier</em></p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>FORM</strong><br />
策 cè is composed of 朿 cì and  “bamboo,” which points to the original meaning “a bamboo horsewhip.” 朿 gives the sound.</p>
<p><strong>COMPONENTS</strong><br />
<br />
In 策,  “bamboo” is a meaning component, pointing to the original meaning “a bamboo horse-whip.”</p>
<p>朿<br />
In 策 cè, 朿 cì is a sound component.</p>
<p><strong>MEANINGS</strong><br />
cè<br />
1 (orig.) bamboo horsewhip<br />
2 → to whip<br />
3 ⇒ to encourage<br />
4 → walking stick<br />
5 ⇒ to support<br />
6 → bamboo book<br />
7 ⇒ plan</p>
</blockquote>
<p><strong>朿</strong></p>
<p><em>Outlier</em></p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>FORM</strong><br />
Ancient form:<br />
<a href="https://i.sstatic.net/BA817.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/BA817.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a><br />
朿 depicts a three-pointed spear, indicating its original meaning “three-pointed spear.”</p>
<p><strong>MEANINGS</strong><br />
cì<br />
1 (orig.) a three-pointed spear<br />
2 → sharp; pointy</p>
</blockquote>
<ul>
<li>朿 is just a sound component in 策 and shares no semantic meanings</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-03-22T23:40:05.230Z
With 朿, the 3 pointed spear what can be stabbed mainly? Why 3 point spear only for stabbing?
user27485
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-03-22T20:20:52.607Z
2021-03-22T20:20:52.607Z
Mou某
<p>What is the etymology of 策 and 朿 ?</p>
<p>As per dictionary the meanings are as below:</p>
<p>朿 cì stab</p>
<p>策 cè policy, plan, scheme, bamboo slip for writing(old), to whip (a horse), to encourage, upward horizontal stroke in calligraphy</p>

<vocabulary><etymology><glyph-origin>
Etymology of 策, 朿
# Etymology of 策, 朿

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-03-22)

What is the etymology of 策 and 朿 ?

As per dictionary the meanings are as below:

朿 cì stab

策 cè policy, plan, scheme, bamboo slip for writing(old), to whip (a horse), to encourage, upward horizontal stroke in calligraphy

**Tags:** vocabulary, etymology, glyph-origin

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2021-03-25. Score: 0 | Accepted answer

朿 means "thorns". From [说文解字](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shuowen_Jiezi)：[朿，木芒也](https://www.zdic.net/hans/%E6%9C%BF)。

Its variant character 刺 is more widely used in modern Chinese.

More ancient usages of inscriptions on bones or tortoise shells of the Shang Dynasty of 朿 is "to stab (ritual animal sacrifices) to death" as in 「朿豕」、「朿羊」、「朿魚」etc, according to [甲骨文合集](https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-hk/%E7%94%B2%E9%AA%A8%E6%96%87%E5%90%88%E9%9B%86).

策 means “horse whips” in ancient times, which was usually made of bamboos, some of which have **thorns** at the front end.

[![秦始皇陵铜车马马策](https://i.sstatic.net/RdIvz.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/RdIvz.jpg)

Another hypothesis is 策 evolves from the riding command 敕 which meant to drive the horse. 说文解字: [以策擊馬曰敇](https://www.zdic.net/hans/%E7%AD%96)。

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Mou, Felix Zhang Thank you very much for the pictures and detailed explanation. It will help in remembering the meaning of both the characters. Thanks  
> **username_2**: @user27485 If you think this answers your question, you should click the "accept" button to mark it as the accepted answer. :)  

---

### Answer by username_3 on 2021-03-22. Score: 2

Here are the etymologies for both characters:

**策**

*Outlier*

> **FORM**  
> 策 cè is composed of 朿 cì and “bamboo,” which points to the original meaning “a bamboo horsewhip.” 朿 gives the sound.
>
> **COMPONENTS**  
>   
> In 策, “bamboo” is a meaning component, pointing to the original meaning “a bamboo horse-whip.”
>
> 朿  
> In 策 cè, 朿 cì is a sound component.
>
> **MEANINGS**  
> cè  
> 1 (orig.) bamboo horsewhip  
> 2 → to whip  
> 3 ⇒ to encourage  
> 4 → walking stick  
> 5 ⇒ to support  
> 6 → bamboo book  
> 7 ⇒ plan

**朿**

*Outlier*

> **FORM**  
> Ancient form:  
> [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/BA817.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/BA817.png)  
> 朿 depicts a three-pointed spear, indicating its original meaning “three-pointed spear.”
>
> **MEANINGS**  
> cì  
> 1 (orig.) a three-pointed spear  
> 2 → sharp; pointy

* 朿 is just a sound component in 策 and shares no semantic meanings

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: With 朿, the 3 pointed spear what can be stabbed mainly? Why 3 point spear only for stabbing?  

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