How to Write 砭 (biān) — Meaning “stone needle / to pierce”

Imagine a stone (石) needle that pierces your skin so deeply it makes you feel weak and tired (乏). The word "乏" looks like a person collapsing, which helps you recall the piercing action of 砭.

Pay attention to the right part 乏: start with a short left-falling stroke, then a horizontal line, a small dot, a horizontal zigzag, and finish with a left-falling and a right-falling stroke. A common mistake is making the 乏 too tall or confusing its middle section with 之 (zhī). The left stone radical should be narrow and sit slightly higher.

砭 has 乏 on the right, while 矶 has 几 (a small table) and 矸 has 干 (dry). Their meanings also differ: 砭 is a stone needle or to pierce/criticize, 矶 means a rock or stone bridge, and 矸 is used in 矸石 (waste rock). Visually, the right-side components are distinct and easy to compare once you know them.

砭 is not common in daily conversation, but it appears in formal or literary phrases like 针砭 (zhēn biān), which means to criticize or point out faults. This expression comes from ancient Chinese medicine, where 砭石 were sharp stones used for acupuncture and bloodletting. Today, you might see it in editorials or discussions about social criticism.

Common words containing 砭 include: 砭石 (biān shí) — stone needle (ancient medical tool); 砭骨 (biān gǔ) — piercing to the bone (cold); 针砭 (zhēn biān) — To criticize / To point out shortcomings.