胸むねに突つき刺ささる

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.

• 彼かれの言こと葉ばが胸むねに突つき刺ささった。

  His words struck home.

• その映えい画がのラストシーンは胸むねに突つき刺ささるものがあった。

  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.

• 犯はん人にんは被ひ害がい者しゃの胸むねに突つき刺ささるようにナイフを振ふり下おろした。

  The assailant brought the knife down as if to stab the victim in the chest.