肱骨 (gōng gǔ) — humerus (the bone of the upper arm)

Definition

noun

humerus (the bone of the upper arm)

Measure word · 根

肱骨。
Yī shēng jiǎn chá le tā de gōng gǔ.
The doctor examined his humerus.
肱骨，。
Tā de gōng gǔ gǔ zhé le, xū yào xiū xi.
His humerus is fractured and needs rest.
肱骨。
gōng gǔ Lián jiē jiān guān jié hé zhǒu guān jié.
The humerus connects the shoulder joint and elbow joint.

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.

肱gōngupper arm

肱 names the upper arm and 骨 means bone, so it is the bone of the upper arm.

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.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

⺼Written in full as肉ròumeat

Sound part声符shēngfú

厷

厷gōng肱gōng

Same sound today

肱 is built from ⺼ (meat) and 厷; 厷 gives the sound and is the original form.

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.