尖锐
jiānruì · HSK 7
sharp-pointed
📌 尖 = 小 small on top + 大 big below; a shape that tapers to a point. 锐 = 金 metal + 兑, a sharp blade
尖 stacks small-over-big, the literal profile of something narrowing to a point. 锐 pairs the metal radical 金 with 兑, marking a keen, cutting edge. Together: sharp-pointed and penetrating.
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.