脆骨 (cuì gū) — cartilage; gristle | tongtong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

noun

cartilagegristle

Measure word · 块

脆骨，。
Zhè dào cài de cuì gū hěn hǎo chī, yòu cuì yòu nèn.
The cartilage in this dish is delicious — both crunchy and tender.
脆骨。
Yī shēng shuō wǒ xī gài de cuì gū yǒu diǎn mó sǔn.
The doctor said the cartilage in my knee is a bit worn.
脆骨，。
Dùn tāng de shí hou jiā yì diǎn cuì gū, wèi dào huì gèng xiāng.
Adding a bit of cartilage when simmering soup makes it more flavorful.

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.

脆 suggests brittleness and 骨 means bone, denoting cartilage or gristle.

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

絕

絕jué脆cuì

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

The left part ⺼, written as 肉, points to meat, and the right part 絕 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.