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Kotomora

尖

be pointed, sharp, taper, displeased, angry, edgy

StatusJinmeiyōFrequencyTop 5,000Strokes6

Readings

On'yomi

  • セン

Kun'yomi

  • とが.る
  • さき
  • するど.い

Meaning

尖 centers on a sharp, tapering point. The physical sense of being pointed extends naturally to a sharp, edgy, or displeased emotional state.

Most common words using 尖

20 of 57
  • 尖るとがる
    N2

    to taper to a point; to become pointed; to become sharp

  • 尖んがりとんがり

    (sharp) point

  • 尖塔せんとう

    spire; steeple; pinnacle; minaret

  • 尖兵せんぺい

    vanguard; advance-guard point; advance detachment

  • バイカル尖鼠バイカルとがりねずみ

    Laxmann's shrew (Sorex caecutiens); Baikal shrew

  • 三尖弁さんせんべん

    tricuspid valve

  • 二尖弁にせんべん

    bicuspid valve; mitral valve

  • 亜鉛尖晶石あえんせんしょうせき

    gahnite

  • 刀尖とうせん

    tip of a sword

  • 剣尖けんせん

    tip of a sword; point of a sword

  • 口を尖らすくちをとがらす

    to pout

  • 口を尖らせるくちをとがらせる

    to pout

  • 唇を尖らすくちびるをとがらす

    to pout

  • 声を尖らすこえをとがらす

    to speak sharply; to sharpen one's tone; to raise one's voice

  • 大足尖鼠おおあしとがりねずみ

    long-clawed shrew (Sorex unguiculatus)

  • 姫尖鼠ひめとがりねずみ

    slender shrew (Sorex gracillimus)

  • 安曇尖鼠あずみとがりねずみ

    Azumi shrew (Sorex hosonoi)

  • 尖ったとがった

    pointed; sharp

  • 尖むこすむ

    to make a diagonal move

  • 尖らすとがらす

    to sharpen (e.g. pencil); to pout (e.g. lips)

Explore all words using 尖 →

Study

Etymology

尖 combines 小 (small) on top and 大 (big) on the bottom, visually suggesting something that tapers from a large base to a small point. This is a straightforward semantic compound.

Meaning mnemonic

A small 小 thing sitting on top of a big 大 thing creates a sharp point. Imagine a tiny needle on a large base, tapering to a point.

Reading mnemonic

For セン, picture a sharp-pointed pen (ペン) that writes with a fine tip: pen -> セン, and the pen's point is sharp and edgy.