尖
jiān · HSK 6
sharp-pointed
📌 Small 小 on top of big 大 — the tip narrows to a point
The character stacks 小 (small) over 大 (big). Something wide at the base that tapers small at the top is, by definition, sharp-pointed. The sound jiān echoes 'jab' — a quick, piercing action.
尖 — small 小 on top + big 大 on bottom
尖 is a compound ideograph: 小 (small) sits above 大 (big), depicting something that tapers from broad to narrow — a point or tip. It's a relatively late character, formed by meaning-combination rather than sound, and still means 'pointed,' 'sharp,' or 'tip' today.