Learn a Chinese Character - 骨

1. Character Basics

Radical: 骨/骨 (gǔ, bone)

Stroke Count: 9

Stroke Order:

2. Pronunciation

Pinyin: Gǔ (Third tone)

3. Meaning

Core Meaning: Bone; skeleton; framework; backbone; essence

The character 骨 primarily refers to bones in the human or animal body. It can also be used metaphorically to mean the core, foundation, or essence of something, such as the "backbone" of an organization or the "skeleton" of a structure.

4. Common Words

• 骨头 (gǔtou) - Bone

  狗正在啃骨头。(Gǒu zhèngzài kěn gǔtou.) - The dog is chewing on a bone.

• 骨架 (gǔjià) - Skeleton; framework

  这座建筑的骨架已经完成了。(Zhè zuò jiànzhù de gǔjià yǐjīng wánchéngle.) - The framework of this building has been completed.

• 骨气 (gǔqì) - Moral integrity; backbone

  他是一个有骨气的人。(Tā shì yī gè yǒu gǔqì de rén.) - He is a person of moral integrity.

• 骨折 (gǔzhé) - Bone fracture; broken bone

  他从自行车上摔下来，导致骨折。(Tā cóng zìxíngchē shàng shuāixiàlái, dǎozhì gǔzhé.) - He fell off his bicycle, resulting in a bone fracture.

• 骨干 (gǔgàn) - Backbone; core member

  她是我们团队的骨干。(Tā shì wǒmen tuánduì de gǔgàn.) - She is the backbone of our team.

5. Grammar & Usage

Usage as a Noun: 骨 is primarily used as a noun referring to bones or skeletal structures.

1. 人体有206块骨头。(Réntǐ yǒu 206 kuài gǔtou.) - The human body has 206 bones.
2. 这副骨架是医学研究用的。(Zhè fù gǔjià shì yīxué yánjiū yòng de.) - This skeleton is for medical research.

Metaphorical Usage: 骨 is often used metaphorically to refer to the core or essence of something.

1. 这幅画很有风骨。(Zhè fú huà hěn yǒu fēnggǔ.) - This painting has a distinctive style (literally "wind and bone").
2. 这部小说的情节是故事的骨架。(Zhè bù xiǎoshuō de qíngjié shì gùshì de gǔjià.) - The plot of this novel is the skeleton of the story.

Common Structures:

• [形容词] + 骨: Adjective + 骨 (e.g., 硬骨, hard bone; 脆骨, fragile bone)
• 骨 + [名词]: 骨 + noun (e.g., 骨肉, flesh and blood; 骨髓, bone marrow)
• 骨 + [抽象名词]: 骨 + abstract noun (e.g., 骨气, moral integrity; 骨感, skinny/thin in a bony way)

6. Cultural Background

In Chinese culture, the character 骨 holds rich symbolic meanings beyond its literal definition. It is often associated with strength, resilience, and moral integrity. The concept of 骨气 (gǔqì, moral backbone) is highly valued in Chinese society, representing a person's unyielding spirit and adherence to principles.

Traditional Chinese medicine places great importance on the role of bones in the body's overall health, viewing them as the foundation of physical structure and strength. The character 骨 also appears in various idioms and expressions that reflect cultural values, such as "铮铮铁骨" (zhēngzhēng tiěgǔ),形容人意志坚强 like unyielding iron bones.

In Chinese art and literature, 骨 is often used to describe the essence or spirit of a work. For example, in calligraphy, "骨力" (gǔlì, bone strength) refers to the forceful, vigorous quality of the brushwork that gives characters their life and power.

7. Example Sentence

8. Memory Tips

1. Break down the character: 骨 can be visualized as having a top part (⺅) that looks like a bone and a bottom part that supports it. You can think of it as a complete bone structure with a rounded top and a solid base.

2. Visual association: When you see 骨, try to visualize an actual bone or skeleton. You can also associate it with words like "骨气" (moral backbone) to remember its metaphorical meaning.

3. Word association: Practice using 骨 in different contexts: literal (骨头, 骨折) and metaphorical (骨气, 骨干) to reinforce its multiple meanings.

4. Practice writing: Write the character multiple times, focusing on its structure. The stroke order is:竖,横折,横折,点,横撇/横钩,竖,横折钩,横,横 (丨, ㄱ, ㄱ, 丶, ㇇, 丨, 𠃌, 一, 一).