刺

ci̅ = c + Ø1

(onom.) whoosh

cì = c + Ø4

thorn / sting / thrust / to prick / to pierce / to stab / to assassinate / to murder

刺 = 刂 + 朿 : The King of Chu (c) got a thorn (刺) stuck in his chest, and he cannot pull it out because it broke off and the tip is deep under the skin. He has no other choice but to use a kitchen knife (刂) to cut it out in the space station's bathroom (Ø4), but he slips and accidentally stabs himself (朿).

刺 character breakdown

刺
- 刂
  - 丨
  - 亅
- 朿
  - 冂
    - 丨
    - ㇆
      - 一
      - 亅
  - 木
    - 八
      - 丿
      - ㇏
    - 十
      - 一
      - 丨
  - ⺆
    - 丿
    - ㇆
      - 一
      - 亅

刂

da̅o = d + ao1

Kangxi radical 18 (刀[dao1]) as a vertical side element / see also 立刀旁[li4 dao1 pang2] / see also 側刀旁|侧刀旁[ce4 dao1 pang2]

刂 = 丨 + 亅 : Mnemonic symbol: a kitchen knife. Don Quixote (d) is showing off his special knifes in front of the aorta (ao1). One is made from a dinosaur bone (丨), and the other is made from a crowbar (亅).

朿

cì = c + Ø4

stab

朿 = ⺆ + 木 : Mnemonic symbol: someone wanting to stab someone else with a dagger.

The King of Chu is tired of Christmas and assassinates the Christmas tree in the space station's bathroom. To be on the safe side he does not only use a dagger to stab the Christmas tree, but also a stapler to staple it.