枯骨 (kū gū) — dry bones, skeleton (of a deceased person or an… | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

Literary term for dry, weathered bones or skeleton — almost always written, not spoken, and carries a stark, somber tone.

noun

dry bonesskeleton (of a deceased person or animal)

Measure word · 具

Examples

枯骨。
Kǎo gǔ xué jiā fā xiàn le gǔ dài rén de kū gū.
Archaeologists discovered the skeletons of ancient people.
枯骨。
Shā mò lǐ dào chù kě jiàn dòng wù de kū gū.
Animal skeletons can be seen everywhere in the desert.
枯骨。
Nà xiē kū gū yǐ jīng fēng huà le hěn duō nián.
Those dry bones have weathered for many years.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

枯 means dry, and 骨 means bone, so 枯骨 is dry bones or a skeleton.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

木古枯

Meaning part形符xíngfú

木木mùtree

Sound part声符shēngfú

古

古gǔ枯kū

Close in sound todayThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

枯 pairs 木 (tree) with 古, which gives the sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

Sound part声符shēngfú

冎

冎guǎ骨gǔ

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

The older form 冎 drew a bone; 肉, flesh, was added to make 骨.

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