To Stab
To Poke, To Jab
transitive verb, godan verb
Because the hiragana ends with an う sound, you know this word is a verb. The kanji itself means stab so the verb vocab version must also be to stab.
Wondering how it’s different from 刺す? 突く refers to the act of pushing or pressing something with a tip of an object, often done forcefully and swiftly. So when you use 突く as in “to stab,” your focus is on the forcefulness of the action. On the other hand, 刺す focuses more on the actual act of piercing into something or someone with a sharp thing.
This is why 突く can be be translated many ways, like to poke, to jab, and many more.
If you're going to get stabbed, don't get stabbed two (つ) times. You can remember that this is the "two time stab" stab because it has a hole that's big. The hole is big because you got stabbed twice.
ヒジで突くの、やめてくれない？
Will you stop poking me with your elbow?
目を突いたら危ないから、気をつけてね！
Be careful not to poke an eye—it's dangerous!
フェンシングのフルーレで突かれたこと、ありますか？
Have you ever gotten stabbed with a fencing fleurette?
「それじゃあ、いくらお金があれば幸せになれるっていうの？」 「う～ん。いたいところを突かれたな。」
"Well then, how much money do you need to be happy?" "Ah. You really hit a sore spot there."