尖
be pointed, sharp, taper, displeased, angry, edgy
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)
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.