‘刺猬’ (cì wèi) is a compound noun meaning ‘hedgehog’ — a small, nocturnal mammal covered in sharp spines used for defense. The first character, 刺 (cì), means ‘thorn’ or ‘spine’, directly referencing the animal’s most distinctive physical feature. The second character, 猬 (wèi), is a rare, specialized character that refers only to this animal and appears almost exclusively in this compound.

In Chinese, 刺猬 is used literally to name the animal in zoological, educational, or everyday contexts — for example, in children’s books, nature documentaries, or casual conversation about wildlife. It carries no strong metaphorical or idiomatic meanings in modern usage, unlike some other animal terms. Though visually striking, the word itself is neutral in tone and register, suitable for both formal descriptions and informal speech.