Chinese Character: 胳
1. Character Basics
Radical: 月 (ròu, flesh/muscle, often indicates body parts)
Stroke Count: 10
Structure: The character consists of the radical "月" (flesh) on the left and "各" (gè, each/every) on the right, indicating a body part related to the upper arm.
Stroke Order:
2. Pronunciation
Pinyin: Gē (First tone) or Gā (First tone, in some dialects)
3. Meaning
Core Meaning: Upper arm; armpit
The character "胳" specifically refers to the upper part of the arm between the shoulder and the elbow, and is often used in compound words related to this body part.
4. Common Words
- 胳膊 (gēbo) - arm (from shoulder to hand)
Example: 他的胳膊受伤了。(Tā de gēbo shòushāng le.) - His arm is injured.
- 胳臂 (gēbei) - arm (another way to say "胳膊", more common in northern dialects)
Example: 她挽着我的胳臂。(Tā wǎnzhe wǒ de gēbei.) - She was holding my arm.
- 胳肢窝 (gēzhiwō) - armpit
Example: 夏天的时候，胳肢窝容易出汗。(Xiàtiān de shíhou, gēzhiwō róngyì chū hàn.) - In summer, it's easy to sweat in the armpits.
- 胳膊肘 (gēbozhǒu) - elbow
Example: 他用胳膊肘推了我一下。(Tā yòng gēbozhǒu tuīle wǒ yīxià.) - He pushed me with his elbow.
- 胳膊腕 (gēbowàn) - wrist
Example: 她的胳膊腕上戴了一个漂亮的手镯。(Tā de gēbowàn shàng dàile yīgè piàoliang de shǒuzhuó.) - She wore a beautiful bracelet on her wrist.
5. Grammar & Usage
Part of Speech: Noun (usually used in compound words)
Usage Patterns:
- Almost always used in compound words rather than alone
- Typically appears before another character to form body part terms
- Can be used in both formal and informal contexts when referring to the arm or related body parts
Common Collocations:
- 抬胳膊 (tái gēbo) - to raise one's arm
- 胳膊酸 (gēbo suān) - to have sore arms
- 胳膊粗 (gēbo cū) - to have thick arms
6. Cultural Background
In Chinese medicine and culture, the arm (胳膊) has significant importance both anatomically and metaphorically.
Traditional Medicine: In traditional Chinese medicine, the arms contain important acupuncture meridians that are believed to connect to various organs and systems of the body.
Body Language: In Chinese culture, certain arm gestures convey specific meanings. For example, raising one's arm high with an open hand can signal greeting or farewell, while crossing arms may indicate defensiveness or disagreement.
Idiomatic Expressions: There are many Chinese idioms involving the arm, such as "一臂之力" (yībìzhīlì), which means "a helping hand" or "to lend one's strength."
7. Example Sentence
Example 1:
她的胳膊很长。
Tā de gēbo hěn cháng.
Her arms are very long.
Example 2:
我需要有人帮我一把（一臂之力）。
Wǒ xūyào yǒurén bāng wǒ yībǎ (yībìzhīlì).
I need someone to give me a hand.
Example 3:
他不小心摔了一跤，胳膊肘擦破了皮。
Tā bù xiǎoxīn shuāile yī jiāo, gēbozhǒu cāpòle pí.
He accidentally fell and scraped his elbow.
8. Memory Tips
1. Component Analysis: The character "胳" is made up of the "月" radical (meaning flesh/muscle) on the left and "各" (gè, each) on the right. Remember that characters with the "月" radical often relate to body parts.
2. Visual Association: Imagine the left part "月" as representing the shape of an arm, and the right part "各" as a helper to remember the pronunciation "gē" or "gā".
3. Word Family: Learn "胳" together with its most common compound words:
- 胳膊 (gēbo) - arm
- 胳臂 (gēbei) - arm (dialectal)
- 胳肢窝 (gēzhiwō) - armpit
4. Memory Phrase: "月加各，就是胳，胳膊长在肩下面" (Yuè jiā gè, jiù shì gē, gēbo zhǎng zài jiān xiàmiàn) - "月 plus 各 makes 胳, the arm grows below the shoulder."