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刺激 — pronunciations, definitions, and tags
HanziPinyinEnglishTags
刺激cìjīto provokeHSK 5, v, rank #1963, Medium
刺激cìjīto irritateHSK 5, v, rank #1963, Medium
刺激cìjīto upsetHSK 5, v, rank #1963, Medium
刺激cìjīto stimulateHSK 5, v, rank #1963, Medium
刺激cìjīto exciteHSK 5, v, rank #1963, Medium
刺激cìjīirritantHSK 5, v, rank #1963, Medium
cìjī(ci4ji1) T4
  1. 1to provoke
  2. 2to irritate
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March 24, 2026
刺激cìjī(ci4ji1)

The verb 刺激 (cì jī) refers to the act of provoking or irritating someone, often causing emotional distress or excitement. It is commonly used in contexts such as discussing reactions to events, situations, or physical sensations that elicit strong feelings, whether negative or positive.

Frequency#1963DifficultyMedium
Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 刺激 can relate to how emotional expressions are perceived—often, showing strong reactions can be seen as a sign of passion or engagement in social contexts, contrasting with more reserved Western approaches.

Memory Tip

Think of 刺 (cì) as a 'thorn' that 'pricks' you, and 激 (jī) as 'excited' energy. Imagine a thorn poking you unexpectedly, causing a sudden response—this captures the essence of 'stimulation' or 'provocation' in your emotions.

Meanings of 刺激

cìjī(ci4ji1)
1to provoke
2to irritate
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About 刺激

刺激Simplified
—Strokes
—Radical
名词míngcínoun (n.)Part of Speech
#1963Frequency Rank
HSK 2.0L5HSK 3.0L5IntermediateTOCFLL4HSKKL2CEFRB1

Podcast: 刺激

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Podcast: 刺激

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AI Study Notes for 刺激

Quick Contrast

刺激 (cìjī) vs 促进 (cùjìn) — use 刺激 when referring to provoking or irritating, while 促进 emphasizes promoting or facilitating a positive outcome.

Memory Mnemonic

Think of 刺 (cì) as a 'thorn' that 'pricks' you, and 激 (jī) as 'excited' energy. Imagine a thorn poking you unexpectedly, causing a sudden response—this captures the essence of 'stimulation' or 'provocation' in your emotions.

Usage Notes

Be mindful of the context when using 刺激, as it can imply negative irritation or positive stimulation. Common collocations include 刺激反应 (cì jī fǎn yìng - provoked reaction) and 情绪刺激 (qíng xù cì jī - emotional stimulation). Avoid using it in overly formal contexts.

HSK Study Tips

As an HSK 5 word, 刺激 connects with other verbs that describe emotional or physical actions. Focus on its usage in different contexts to understand the nuances, especially how it contrasts with words like 安静 (ān jìng - quiet) or 平静 (píng jìng - calm).

Cultural Note

In Chinese culture, the concept of 刺激 can relate to how emotional expressions are perceived—often, showing strong reactions can be seen as a sign of passion or engagement in social contexts, contrasting with more reserved Western approaches.

Common Mistakes

Learners often confuse 刺激 with the more neutral words for 'excite' or 'stimulate' and may use it inappropriately, such as saying '我很刺激' (Wǒ hěn cì jī - I am very stimulated) instead of '我很兴奋' (Wǒ hěn xīng fèn - I am very excited).

AI-enhanced 2026-03-24

Pronunciation of 刺激

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Component Characters

刺cìthorn
HSK 68 strokes刂
View full entry
激jīto arouse
HSK 516 strokes氵
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Write 刺激

刺
激

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Grammar Patterns of 刺激

刺激 functions as a verb — the action or state of the sentence. The Chinese order is Subject + Verb + Object (我吃饭). Negate it with 不 (habitual / future) or 没(有) (completed action). Add aspect markers like 了, 过, 着 directly after the verb. It carries 6 related meanings, each with its own usage notes below. The example sentences below show it in action, with practice buttons (Listen, Practice Writing, Practice Speaking) on every line.

Exercise 1 of 4

Complete the Sentence

场面非常____撩人，我感到欲火难耐。

It was extremely hot and I was feeling rather randy.

Example Sentences for 刺激 (10)

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1
场面非常刺激撩人，我感到欲火难耐。

cháng miàn fēi cháng cì jī liāo rén， ， wǒ gǎn dào yù huǒ nán。

It was extremely hot and I was feeling rather randy.
2
很多人喜欢富有挑战性的工作所带来的强烈的精神刺激。

hěn duō rén xǐ huān fù yǒu tiāo zhàn xìng de gōng zuò suǒ dài lái de qiáng liè de jīng shén cì jī。

Many enjoy the mental stimulation of a challenging job.
3
研究人员用电来刺激那块肌肉。

yán jiū rén yuán yòng diàn lái cì jī nà kuài jī ròu。

The researchers stimulated the muscle electrically.
4
减税或许会产生某种刺激作用——这是可能的。

jiǎn shuì huò xǔ huì chǎn shēng mǒu zhǒng cì jī zuò yòng—— —— zhè shì kě néng。

It is possible that a tax cut might have some stimulative effect.
5
高浓度的臭氧会对眼睛、鼻子和咽喉有刺激作用。

gāo nóng dù de chòu yǎng huì duì yǎn jīng、 、 bí zǐ hé yān hóu yǒu cì jī zuò。

In heavy concentrations, ozone is irritating to the eyes, nose and throat.
6
切辣椒时要戴橡胶手套，因为辣椒会刺激皮肤。

qiē là jiāo shí yào dài xiàng jiāo shǒu tào， ， yīn wéi là jiāo huì cì jī pí。

Wear rubber gloves while chopping chillies as they can irritate the skin.
7
不管怎么说，追求的过程总比得手更为刺激。

bù guǎn zěn mó shuō， ， zhuī qiú de guò chéng zǒng bǐ dé shǒu gēng wéi cì。

The chase is always much more exciting than the conquest anyway.
8
“我可不想要这种刺激，”他笑着说。

“ “ wǒ kě bù xiǎng yào zhè zhǒng cì，” jī ，” tā xiào。

"It's a thrillI'm in no hurry for," he smiles.
9
脱咖啡因的咖啡仍含一些刺激物和其他可能致癌的有害物质。

tuō kā fēi yīn de kā fēi réng hán yī xiē cì jī wù hé qí tā kě néng zhì ái de yǒu hài wù zhì。

Decaffeinated coffee still contains some stimulants and other nasties linked with cancer.
10
这个故事就像一辆失控的高速列车，读起来惊险刺激。

zhè gè gù shì jiù xiàng yī liàng shī kòng de gāo sù liè chē， ， dú qǐ lái jīng xiǎn cì。

The narrative pulls you along like a runaway train.

Cultural Notes for 刺激

🏮Cultural insight

In Chinese culture, the concept of 刺激 can relate to how emotional expressions are perceived—often, showing strong reactions can be seen as a sign of passion or engagement in social contexts, contrasting with more reserved Western approaches.

Frequently Asked Questions about 刺激

Yes, 刺激 can denote exciting or stimulating experiences, such as a thrilling event, but context is crucial to convey whether the stimulation is viewed positively or negatively.