棘手 jíshǒu HSK7 thorny Definitions Defs Origin Strokes Stroke Words Sentences Sents 棘 jí adjective to prick (bound form) to prick or sting; specifically used in the compound 棘手 jíshǒu meaning a thorny or troublesome problem手 shǒu noun hand the part of the arm from the wrist down, including the palm and fingers