prick

Compared meaning: go through something with force or a sharp point (verb).

比较义项：用尖锐物体或力量穿入、穿透某物（动词）。

• penetrate

  The most general term: to go into or through something, often a barrier, without necessarily creating a hole or using a sharp point; can describe bullets, cold, light, or ideas.

  语义最笼统的词：指进入或穿过某物（常指屏障），不一定形成孔洞，也不一定使用尖锐物体；可用于子弹、寒气、光线甚至思想等。

  Cold wind seemed to penetrate every layer of her heavy winter coat.

  寒风似乎穿透了她厚重冬衣的每一层。

• pierce

  Means to make a hole through something using a sharp, pointed object, usually forcefully and all the way through; common with ears, arrows, or needles making a lasting hole.

  指用尖锐物体用力穿透某物并形成孔洞，通常是整个穿过；常用于耳洞、箭矢或针留下持久的孔。

  She finally got her ears pierced for her sixteenth birthday.

  她终于在十六岁生日那天穿了耳洞。

• prick 本词

  Means to make only a small, shallow hole with a fine point, causing a brief sting rather than deep penetration; typically used for skin pricked by a pin, needle, or thorn.

  只表示用细小尖锐物刺出一个很小、浅的孔，引起短暂刺痛感，而非深入穿透；通常用于针、大头针或刺扎到皮肤的情况。

  A rose thorn pricked her finger, leaving just a tiny drop of blood.

  一根玫瑰刺扎了她的手指，只渗出一小滴血。

All three mean to go through something. Penetrate is the most general, going through any barrier without a sharp point. Pierce forces a sharp point through, making a full hole. Prick makes only a tiny, shallow hole, like from a needle.

这三个词都能表示“穿透、刺穿某物”，但程度和使用场合不同：penetrate 语义最笼统，可指穿过任何屏障，不强调尖锐工具；pierce 强调用尖物用力穿出孔洞，常常是整个穿过；prick 只指细小尖物刺出的一个小孔，程度最轻。这里不比较 penetrate 表示“看穿、洞察”的引申义，也不比较 prick 表示“（耳朵等）竖起”的义项。