be pointed, sharp, taper, displeased, angry, edgy
尖 centers on a sharp, tapering point. The physical sense of being pointed extends naturally to a sharp, edgy, or displeased emotional state.
尖 combines 小 (small) on top and 大 (big) on the bottom, visually suggesting something that tapers from a large base to a small point. This is a straightforward semantic compound.
A small 小 thing sitting on top of a big 大 thing creates a sharp point. Imagine a tiny needle on a large base, tapering to a point.
For セン, picture a sharp-pointed pen (ペン) that writes with a fine tip: pen -> セン, and the pen's point is sharp and edgy.
to taper to a point; to become pointed; to become sharp
(sharp) point
spire; steeple; pinnacle; minaret
vanguard; advance-guard point; advance detachment
Laxmann's shrew (Sorex caecutiens); Baikal shrew
tricuspid valve
bicuspid valve; mitral valve
gahnite
tip of a sword
tip of a sword; point of a sword
to pout
to pout
to pout
to speak sharply; to sharpen one's tone; to raise one's voice
long-clawed shrew (Sorex unguiculatus)
slender shrew (Sorex gracillimus)
Azumi shrew (Sorex hosonoi)
pointed; sharp
to make a diagonal move
to sharpen (e.g. pencil); to pout (e.g. lips)