[苛々 ]{いらいら} versus [刺々 ]{いらいら}


Is there any difference in meaning between using [苛々 ]{いらいら} or [刺々 ]{いらいら} to
indicate annoyance?




Almost nothing but the latter possibly reminds readers of the real 刺【とげ】
"thorn", or another reading of the kanji: 刺々【とげとげ】 "barbed".

Although いらいら came from an old word
[いら](http://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/jn/15334/meaning/m0u/%E3%81%84%E3%82%89/)
that means "thorn", it's almost always written as 苛々 when merely means
"annoyed; irritated". (But maybe more prevalent in katakana イライラ nowadays.)




Almost nothing but the latter possibly reminds readers of the real 刺【とげ】
"thorn", or another reading of the kanji: 刺々【とげとげ】 "barbed".

Although いらいら came from an old word
[いら](http://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/jn/15334/meaning/m0u/%E3%81%84%E3%82%89/)
that means "thorn", it's almost always written as 苛々 when merely means
"annoyed; irritated". (But maybe more prevalent in katakana イライラ nowadays.)

