expression, godan verb (-ru)
hit home; resonate emotionally; strike a chord
Used when words, criticism, or an event deeply affect someone emotionally, as if piercing the heart. Often appears in past tense or as a modifying clause.
彼の言葉が胸に突き刺さった。
His words struck home.
その映画のラストシーンは胸に突き刺さるものがあった。
The final scene of that movie really resonated with me.
expression, godan verb (-ru)
stab in the chest
Literal, physical meaning. Rarely used outside of dramatic or literary contexts; the idiomatic sense is far more common.
犯人は被害者の胸に突き刺さるようにナイフを振り下ろした。
The assailant brought the knife down as if to stab the victim in the chest.