荊棘 おどろ briars Meanings also 棘 na-adjective, noun briars; thicket; the bush けいきょく · ばら noun wild rose; bramble briar patch idiom obstacle; source of difficulty; thorn Its kanji 荊 ケイ · いばら thorn, brier, whip 棘 キョク · いばら、とげ thorn, splinter, spine, biting words, briers